Refinery
Refinery corrosion is driven by sulphur compounds, naphthenic acids and hydrogen at temperature. Material selection follows established damage-mechanism assessment rather than general corrosion data, and stabilised grades are specified where welded components will operate in the sensitisation range for years at a time.
What gets specified in refinery
Ordered by how commonly they are called for in this sector.
- UNS S32100 / S32109321 / 321HPREN 19
304 stabilised with titanium. Resists sensitisation in the 425–815 degrees C range.
- UNS S34700 / S34709347 / 347HPREN 19
Stabilised with niobium rather than titanium. Preferred where weld filler purity matters.
- UNS S31600 / S31603316 / 316LPREN 25
304 plus 2–3% molybdenum. The standard answer to chlorides and mild acids.
- UNS S31000 / S31008310 / 310SPREN 25
25% chromium, 20% nickel. A heat-resisting grade, not a corrosion-resisting one.
- UNS S31700 / S31703317 / 317LPREN 30
Higher molybdenum than 316, at 3–4%. The step up before super-austenitics.
Applications
05- Crude and vacuum unit overhead systems
- Hydroprocessing reactor internals
- Reformer and heater tubes
- Heat exchanger bundles
- Column internals and trays
Governing standards
04- API 571
- API 530
- ASTM A312
- ASTM A213
Verification available
10- Spectrometer
- Chemical Testing Laboratory
- Positive Material Identification (PMI)
- Spectro Test
- Tensile Testing Machine
- Hardness Testing Machine
- Portable Hardness Tester
- Flattening Test
- Reverse-Bend Test
- Hydrostatic Test Machine
What refinery buys
Other industries
Supplying into refinery?
Send the specification and service conditions. We will confirm the grade, the availability and the documentation you will need.