Outokumpu Supra 316plus stainless steel reduces weight of LNG tank container by 30%
September 13, 2017
Source:
Outokumpu Oy, Finland, announces that Finnish liquefied natural gas tank manufacturer LNGTainer has launched a new tank that brings together two innovations – LNGTainer's game-changing tank container, and Outokumpu's unique austenitic stainless steel grade, Supra 316plus (EN 1.4420, UNS S31655).
"The most revolutionary aspect of LNGTainer's new tank container is that the structure includes a lightweight, flexible inside tank, and an outside pressure vessel," says LGTainer CEO Tom Sommardal. "For the lightweight inside tank, we chose Outokumpu's Supra 316plus steel grade. With the new patented structure, we could decrease the weight of the tank by 30% and increase its capacity by 15%. Because the weight of the inside tank is significantly less than in competing tanks, the time for cooling off the inside tank is considerably shorter. The lightweight inside tank cools off faster for transport."
LNGTainer first considered aluminum for the inside tank, while Outokumpu offered Supra 316plus because of its properties. Supra 316plus has relatively better low-temperature properties compared to other similar materials. In fact, its strength and ductility only improve as the temperature drops down to the lowest measured cryogenic temperature of −196°Celsius. LNG is transported at a temperature of −164°C, and then is warmed back to gas when delivered.
"By having excellent low temperature properties, Supra 316plus enables thinner gauges, which translates as savings in weight, fuel, and energy costs, as well as a lower carbon footprint. LNGTainer's new tank container is a real breakthrough, and it demonstrates the best use of stainless steel properties in extreme conditions," says Product Manager Juha Kela at Outokumpu.
Supra 316plus has a higher chromium and nitrogen content, and less nickel and molybdenum. Thanks to the optimized composition, the grade has good corrosion resistance and its performance is superior to conventional steel grades when the temperature drops down to cryogenic temperatures. In addition, the price of the grade is competitive and stable.
www.outokumpu.com/stainless-news
Outokumpu Oy, Finland, announces that Finnish liquefied natural gas tank manufacturer LNGTainer has launched a new tank that brings together two innovations – LNGTainer’s game-changing tank container, and Outokumpu’s unique austenitic stainless steel grade, Supra 316plus (EN 1.4420, UNS S31655).
Continue reading
SecoWarwick brazing system to produce aluminum heat exchangers for race cars
March 1, 2017
Source:
SecoWarwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that a complete controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) system will be installed in a C & R Racing (USA) facility for the production of high-performance aluminum heat exchangers.
"The addition of this equipment is an important step in PWR Performance Products' global strategy to expand our reach into the North American market with the new C & R Racing technology," says Kees Weel, CEO and Managing Director, PWR Performance Products. "We purchased our first SecoWarwick brazing line 15 years ago for our facility in Australia as part of our overall manufacturing strategy to keep all operations in house for optimum quality control over all of our products. The Seco Warwick brazing technology has operated with the reliable performance that we demand to produce high quality product."
SecoWarwick will provide a complete CAB manufacturing cell that will include an inline dry-off oven and a radiation braze CAB furnace system equipped with patented Accubraze process control technology. Installation is scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.
A SecoWarwick Radiation CAB System is an ideal method for brazing similar size products in a continuous flow environment. The furnace is designed to use a stainless steel muffle to contain the nitrogen atmosphere and provide uniform heating of the products. The heat input into the furnace chamber is proportionally controlled to heat the muffle, which in turn heats the products. Product results are consistently high, and fully automated material handling provides maximum efficiency with minimal operator intervention.
www.secowarwick.com
SecoWarwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that a complete controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) system will be installed in a C & R Racing (USA) facility for the production of high-performance aluminum heat exchangers.
Continue reading
Aerobraze to overhaul USAF F-16 jet fighter heat exchangers via furnace brazing
December 1, 2016
Source:
Wall Colmonoy's Aerobraze Engineered Technologies, Oklahoma City, announces that it has won a multi-year, multi-million dollar United States Air Force contract for the overhaul of the F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter primary and secondary heat exchangers. Wall Colmonoy developed high-temperature furnace brazing and pioneered the first heat exchanger overhaul procedures. The company continues to deliver significant cost savings and performance improvements to the United States Air Force. The F-16 has dominated the skies for over 30 years as a multirole and air superiority fighter in service in over 25 countries.
According to Brian Martin, General Manager for Aerobraze Oklahoma City, "As a major manufacturer and overhauler of heat exchangers for the USAF for over 33 years, it is with great pride that we continue to provide support to the United States Air Force. This new award demonstrates our ongoing commitment to increasing efficiency and cost savings for our customers, through extending the life of critical components for the aerospace industry."
The division meets aerospace quality standards in processes for brazing, surfacing, welding, thermal processing, fabricating, machining, and overhauling. Quality standards include ISO9100, AS9100 Revision C, EASA.145.6085, Nadcap approvals for brazing, heat treat, welding, coating, NDT, and chemical processing, along with FAA-Repair License. An FAA-DER is on staff to support customer engineering requirements.
www.wallcolmonoy.com/aerobraze.
Wall Colmonoy’s Aerobraze Engineered Technologies, Oklahoma City, announces that it has won a multi-year, multi-million dollar United States Air Force contract for the overhaul of the F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter primary and secondary heat exchangers.
Continue reading
Nucor to acquire steel plate mill in Texas
July 27, 2016
Source:
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire the Joy Global steel plate mill in Longview, Texas, for approximately $29 million. The mill produces carbon and alloy steel plate products with heat-treating capabilities, and has an annual capacity of 180,000 tons. The mill produces specialty plate products with the capability of producing plate that can range from 1 to 12 inches thick and up to 138 inches wide.
"This acquisition builds on our strategy to capture a growing share of higher value-added plate products, and complements the capabilities of our two existing plate mills," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO, and President of Nucor. "The Longview mill will serve as a valuable addition to Nucor's plate products, which we believe can be further leveraged by our Nucor commercial team."
Nucor's existing plate mills are in North Carolina and Alabama, and have a combined capacity of 2.9 million tons per year. Nucor's existing mills produce plate for manufacturers of barges, bridges, heavy equipment, rail cars, refinery tanks, ships, wind towers, armor, and other markets. Nucor plate products are also used in the pipe and tube, pressure vessel, transportation and construction industries.
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada. Products include carbon and alloy steel as bars, beams, sheet, and plate; steel pilings; steel joists and joist girders; steel decks; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold-finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through the David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire the Joy Global steel plate mill in Longview, Texas, for approximately $29 million.
Continue reading
Specialty stainless steel with 23% chromium provides higher corrosion resistance
March 9, 2016
Source:
Crompion International, Baton Rouge, La., reports that it has developed Cromgard C23, a specialty stainless steel with 23% chromium, 3.5 - 5% nickel, and 1 - 2% molybdenum. When Cromgard is heat treated properly, it develops a microstructure of nearly equal proportions of austenite and ferrite. This microstructure ensures that the grade is much more resistant to stress-corrosion cracking than austenitic stainless steels.
This grade is engineered to be a specialty stainless alternative to 316L, which contains approximately 17% chromium, 10 - 14% nickel, and 2 - 3% molybdenum.
According to the company, C23 is a duplex specialty stainless steel that provides higher pitting and crevice corrosion resistance along with enhanced strength. It is said to be less susceptible to price fluctuations due to the low nickel content. Also, as Cromgard C23 is twice as strong as 316L, many parts can be downgauged, which results in cost reductions in the multi-thousands or more for tank and vessel applications.
Cromgard C23 is available in multiple widths and lengths to fit a wide range of customer needs.
www.crompion.com
Crompion International, Baton Rouge, La., reports that it has developed Cromgard C23, a specialty stainless steel with 23% chromium, 3.5 – 5% nickel, and 1 – 2% molybdenum.
Continue reading
Worthington Industries acquires brazing manufacturer
January 19, 2016
Source:
Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, has acquired the business of NetBraze LLC, a manufacturer of brazing alloys, silver brazing filler metals, solders, and fluxes primarily used in plumbing, HVAC-R, industrial gas, and OEM markets.
"This acquisition expands our offering of alloys in the professional wholesale channel with innovative products that utilize patented technologies," said Worthington Industries' Pressure Cylinders President Andy Billman." The products that NetBraze has developed save an operator time, resources, and cost when brazing. We look forward to offering these new products in addition to our full complement of joining technologies products to our customers."
Worthington manufactures and distributes a full line of joining alloys including lead-free solders, brazing rods, fluxes, hand torches and hand-torch fuel under the Worthington Joining Technologies and Bernzomatic brands.
NetBraze products include standard BCuP brazing alloys, BAg silver solders and fluxes, and innovative technologies including QuickCoil, which offers up to 22-feet of non-stop brazing, eliminating leftover scrapped stubs produced by traditional brazing rods, and products with lower braze temperatures that make the brazing process more efficient. NetBraze is located in Mt. Orab, Ohio and has 23 employees.
www.worthingtonindustries.com
Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, has acquired the business of NetBraze LLC, a manufacturer of brazing alloys, silver brazing filler metals, solders, and fluxes primarily used in plumbing, HVAC-R, industrial gas, and OEM markets.
Continue reading
Ultra 76 Plus tantalum alloy resists corrosion in hot concentrated acids
July 8, 2015
Source:
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., introduces the Ultra 76 Plus tantalum alloy, which is designed to combat aggressive hazardous-chemical corrosion in hot concentrated acids. The alloy is based on the Ta2.5W alloy, which improves corrosion resistance by minimizing hydrogen embrittlement, extending equipment life, and reducing downtime.
Ultra 76 Plus was designed by H.C. Starck's Fabricated Products Division. It enables increased concentrations and operating temperatures in HCI, H2SO4, and other acids. It can add value to a multitude of products, from heat exchangers, condensers, and coils, to thermocouple protection sheaths, pumps, distillation columns, boilers, and condensers.
H.C. Starck's high-tech materials — molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys — are excellent choices for applications in high temperatures and severe environments. Tantalum, in particular, is widely used in electronics, chemical processes, and biomedical industries, where its alloys provide cost-effective, long service-life solutions for mission-critical components. In addition, it enables users to eliminate separate "Platinum Spot Welding" steps.
www.hcstarck.com
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., introduces the Ultra 76 Plus tantalum alloy, which is designed to combat aggressive hazardous-chemical corrosion in hot concentrated acids.
Continue reading
Microporous copper foam with relative density of 37% is effective heat sink
April 28, 2015
Source:
Goodfellow, England, offers a microporous copper foam with pore sizes between 300 and 600 µm and a relative density of around 37%. This provides a much higher surface area than traditional copper foams, and is a powerful heat sink. Microporous copper foam is produced by means of a lost-carbonate sintering process. Pure copper powder is mixed with a carbonate powder, then compacted and sintered. This forms a matrix of copper ligaments, with spaces filled with carbonate powder.
After cooling, the carbonate is dissolved away in water and recycled or decomposed using heat. The resulting structure is regular and uniform throughout, giving a rigid, highly porous and permeable structure with a controlled density of metal per unit volume.
Applications of microporous copper foam include but are not limited to board-level electronics cooling, power electronics, and EMI shielding. This microporous material is expected to be of particular interest to design engineers working in fields requiring heat exchange.
The foam is available as disks and sheets ranging in thickness from 4 to 10 mm. Other thicknesses may be available upon request.
www.goodfellow.com
Goodfellow, England, offers a microporous copper foam with pore sizes between 300 and 600 µm and a relative density of around 37%.
Continue reading
AK Steel introduces nickel-free stainless steel at lower cost with excellent corrosion resistance
September 24, 2014
Source:
AK Steel, Westchester, Ohio, has introduced ChromeShield 22, a new nickel-free stainless steel alloy with enhanced properties and stable pricing. It was developed by AK Steel at its Research Center in Middletown, Ohio, principally for manufacturers of appliance and food service equipment, tubing, cookware, automotive exhaust components, and heat exchangers. After rigorous testing and customer trials, ChromeShield 22 has proven to be a lower-cost material solution with many manufacturing benefits across several of the most demanding applications.
Similar to nickel-bearing stainless steels, it is rust and stain resistant with excellent corrosion properties. In numerous applications, the corrosion resistance of ChromeShield 22 will meet or exceed the performance of conventional nickel-bearing stainless steels. This breakthrough in technology will better maintain both the integrity and appearance of the product versus many higher priced stainless steels.
In addition, it withstands extreme changes in temperature better than nickel-bearing grades of stainless steel used for comparable applications. This is particularly important to manufacturers of automotive exhaust components, cookware and heat exchangers, as it offers enhanced protection against both oxidation and temperature-related stress and fatigue fractures.
ChromeShield 22 also has been approved by NSF International, a leading health and public safety organization, as safe for food contact. This is a critical benefit for the food service equipment market.
Since it does not contain nickel, pricing is more predictable than the extremely volatile fluctuations of nickel-bearing steels, whose costs are driven by nickel trading on the London Metal Exchange.
http://www.aksteel.com
AK Steel, Westchester, Ohio, has introduced ChromeShield 22, a new nickel-free stainless steel alloy with enhanced properties and stable pricing.
Continue reading
Sandvik hyper-duplex stainless steel tube extends heat exchanger tube life by 2 to 15 years
June 24, 2014
Source:
Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, reports that a major Caribbean producer of furfural, an organic compound derived from agricultural byproducts, chose to replace the existing tube in its heat exchangers with hyper-duplex stainless steel by Sandvik. As a result, its tube lifecycles have extended from two to 15 years, with a profound impact on material costs.
Sandvik SAF 2707 HD is a hyper-duplex stainless steel with excellent resistance to pitting corrosion and chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking. It is an alternative to nickel alloys with similar performance, but is more attractive economically in terms of material and lifecycle costs.
"Our hyper-duplex stainless steel was selected for its mechanical strength, which is higher than all the super-duplex stainless steel grades available on the market. Its excellent chloride corrosion resistance is well-suited to much more aggressive service conditions," explained Marcelo Senatore, global Technical marketing, Sandvik Materials Technology.
After two years of successful operation, the heat exchangers were inspected and found to be as good as new, showing no signs of pitting corrosion. The furfural producer will introduce periodic washing of metal surfaces to keep the equipment free from seawater debris.
www.smt.sandvik.com
Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, reports that a major Caribbean producer of furfural, an organic compound derived from agricultural byproducts, chose to replace the existing tube in its heat exchangers with hyper-duplex stainless steel by Sandvik.
Continue reading 
