Technical Overview on SS 316 Electropolished Pipe and Hastelloy C276 Plate for Industrial Applications

The SS 316 electropolished pipe has been the first choice in critical process industries for a long time owing to its attractive surface finish, excellent corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning. The pipe, originating from austenitic stainless steel, is a molybdenum-containing solution, which enables the pipe to resist chlorides and acidic environments, thus it is perfect for pharmaceutical, food, and semiconductor systems. The SS 316 electropolished pipe processes the surface treatment method, which removes the contaminants and the micro-burrs on the surface, thereby the surface roughness (Ra) can reach the value of 0.25 µm which is very important for hygienic flow lines.

These pipes are generally available from SCH 5S to SCH 40S with the diameter ranges from ½” to 12”. A number of the process industries in the USA, UAE, and Italy that use the 316 SS electropolished pipes source these items from Indian manufacturers because these pipes comply with ASTM A312 and ASME BPE standards resulting in high quality and performance stability under harsh conditions. Contrarily, the Hastelloy C276 Plate is a material that is predominately nickel with molybdenum and chromium as main alloying elements and is recognized for its resistance to both fabulous oxidizers and reducing agents. The low carbon content helps in preventing the precipitation of carbides to take place during welding thus its corrosion resistance is retained also in the welded area.

The material is to ASTM B575 standard and is the most popular choice in the production of reactors, evaporators, and scrubbers for the chemical and petrochemical industry. The plate usually has a range of thickness from 3mm to 50mm and is perfect for the manufacturing of a pressure vessel according to ASME Section VIII rules. The industries in Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Singapore are consistently purchasing Hastelloy C276 plate from India for their long service in the aggressive environment and meeting international metallurgical ​‍​‌‍​‍‌standards.