Piping Engineering: Material selection

General discussion:
Selection of Piping Metallurgy, including piping material specification, is the responsibility of
Process Engineer / Metallurgist. Generally, Process select basic metallurgy such as Carbon Steel
(CS), Stainless Steel (SS), Alloy Steel (AS), etc. on the basis of process / licensor requirement and
intrinsic metallurgy requirement with process medium to select appropriate corrosion allowance.
On larger size projects, Metallurgy selection diagrams are prepared by Metallurgist, which shows
basic material, corrosion allowance, PWHT requirement and valve trim selection such as NACE,
316, Monel, etc. to help Mechanical, Piping design and Piping engineering.
Typical services, which requires special consideration in piping material components selection,
design, fabrication and cleaning, are Wet H2S, Amine ( includes MEA, DEA, DIPA, DGA etc),
Carbonates, Caustic, Hydrofluoric ( HF) Acid, Hydrogen services, Oxygen, Chlorine etc.

 Material Selection
o Typical Material:
 Carbon Steel:
 Cast Iron / Ductile / Malleable Iron: Brittle, Cheaper, Low strength,
Temp limit, for utility services such as water, air, occasionally low
pressure steam.
 Galvanize : Limit up to 200 deg.F, Utility SVC such as water, air,
Nitrogen
 Cast Steel: For high temp. and higher strength, All process lines –
Limit up to 800deg. F
 Lined –Metallic, Glass, non metallic: Use for highly corrosive such as
Acid with very high concentration @ Low temperature. Limited by
process.
 Cr-Mo:
 Low: Through 3 Cr—Common use 1-1/4 Cr—A335-P11. Limit up to
1200 deg.F
 Medium—5 Cr thru 9 Cr—Common use 5Cr-A-335-P5. Limit up to
1200 deg.F
 High: 12Cr---Limited use due to cost and availability. Limit 1200
deg.F,Common A-335-P22
 Stainless:
304, 316 –Watch for grade—304L has lower grade, Limit up to 900 to
1000deg.F. 304H—For High temperature up to 1500 deg.F
 317—Mainly dictate by Process and Licensor
 321, 347 – Metallurgically , very stable in high temp. application.
 Impact testing is not required, if C<0.1%
 Duplex SS: Alloy 20 (UNS NO2200)
 Monel : Alloy 400 (UNS NO4400)
 Inconel: Alloy 600, 625, 800 , 825, C276, etc
 Titanium:
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 Non Metallic: FRP, PVC, CPVC, HDPE:

 Maximum Limit 200 to 250 deg.F.
 Check vendor’s recommendation.


o Client requirement due to Metallurgy / Process

 Caustic:
 Check Caustic ( NAOH or KOH) concentration for material selection.
 Use Baume’s scale ( or Caustic Cracking Curve per RP0403) chart for
reference.
 Typical material used is CS.
 Generally require PWHT in CS by Client.
 Typical valve trim is Monel
 Do not allow steam out, If PWHT is not mandated.


 Amine: ( wt.>2%) organic compounds having amino functional groups
which provide chemical reactivity. Amines are used to absorb hydrogen
sulfide and carbon dioxide from various gases to meet a specification.
 Includes MEA, DEA, DIPA, DGA
 Require PWHT in CS.
 Fresh amine is not likely to cause stress corrosion cracking and does
not require PWHT but once the amine exposed to process both lean
and rich amine services require PWHT.
 Limit to 6 ft/sec velocity for CS.
 Preferred valve trim is 316SS.
 SS is used for higher temperature and higher velocity.
 Wet H2S: A stream with H2S dissolved in a separate water/moisture phase.
 Greater than wt % 50 to 75 ppm of H2S concentration in water,
susceptible to stress corrosion cracking .
 Some requires PWHT in all case while some only control CE only to
control hardness, some measure the hardness and PWHT only, if
hardness is greater than 200 BHN.
 NACE- MR0103 valves are not required but are acceptable. Some
client use NACE valves in this service.
 CS with 300 series SS trim are typically used for valves.
 Always follow Client’s guide lines or requirement. In any doubts,
Request Clients or Jacobs metallurgist for approval.

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 Hydrogen ( API 910, 941) : Hydrogen service defined as a combination

of Hydrogen partial pressure and temperature above the curve for carbon
steel per figure of API 941. General use is in hydro desulphurization, hydro
cracking or petrochemical processing. Material selection is very
important ,specially, in high-temperature and high pressure applications.
 Nelson Curve: Provide guide lines. Most client use 50 deg F and 50 psi
below curve limit for material selection.
 Up to 450 deg.F--- CS
 From 450 to 625 deg.F—1-1/4Cr or 2-1/4Cr, Duplex SS
 From 450 to 750deg.F--- 321 SS
 > 750deg.F—321SS,347Ss or Alloy 800
 Higher pressure class rating ( Class 600 and Higher) will require
stringent casting inspection requirement. Strictly follow Client guide
lines. Standard valves will not acceptable, which may become long
lead item.
 Check for PWHT requirement. Each client has established guide line
on the base of partial pressure of Hydrogen and Wet H2S
concentration.
 Check for NACE requirement for valve trim. Each client has
established guide line on the base of partial pressure of Hydrogen and
Wet H2S concentration.
 HF: Hydrofluoric Acid > 1 ppm.
 Some requires PWHT in all case while some only control CE only to
control hardness, some measure the hardness and PWHT only, if
hardness is greater than 200 BHN.
 Very critical and hazardous service.
 Special precaution is required for purchasing of components,
shielding and color coding.
 Strictly follow pipe specification.
 Carbonet : A water- containing phase that contains the CO3 ion.
 Special calculations are required to determine carbonate
concentration.
 PWHT to be decided by metallurgist on the base of concentration.

 Chlorine:
 Liquid and Dry—Chlorine Institute Pamphlet shall be follow for
material selection and design.
 Strictly follow pipe specification.
 Ball valves are typically used in this service. If ball valves are used,
Bypass is require for vapor release.
 Leakage of Chlorine is hazardous.

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 CS is used in Liquid service.

 PWHT is not require.
 Require very high precaution in purchasing specification for piping
and components cleanliness.
 Require additional precaution in shipping and packing due to
cleanliness requirement.
 Ammonia:
 Aqueous and Gaseous application.
 In Aqueous ( Ammonia with water) CS is commonly used.
 Strictly follow pipe specification.
 In gaseous service, Refrigeration codes and specification shall be used.
Do not use regular CS, if temperature is below -20 deg.F

 Oxygen : for concentration higher than 31%.
 CGA ( Compressed Gas Association) standard shall be followed.
 Highly critical service.
 Strictly follow pipe specification, specially, notes for design and material
selection.
 Commonly, use materials are CS, SS, Monel.
 PTFE gasket filler and valves stem packing are prefer material.
 Avoid threaded piping.
 Require additional precaution in shipping and handling due to
cleanliness requirement.


 High Temperature: Discuss SS and Alloy group


 Catalyst Service
 Slurry Service
o Code requirement:
 ASME B31.1, B31.3: Use ASTM designation from code. Avoid unlisted
material. Strictly follow code temperature press. limit.
 PWHT: Ref. to Material section in B31.3 for thickness and hold time.
 Impact Testing: Discuss chart from material group. Thickness up to CS
½”, does not require up -20 deg.F.
 Fluid Category: D, N, C, H
 Cyclic Service:



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