Ultimate Guide Stainless Steel Bends In Marine Applications

Marine applications demand stainless steel products and it has some good reasons behind it. It is widely known as the appropriate material for coastal applications because it is corrosion-resistant, as well as has a good appearance, stability, durability, lustre, strength, and stiffness.

Why used in marine applications?

In marine environments, sturdy and durable items must be used because many factors come together to play like water flow rates, pressure, high salt content, temperature, etc. Since stainless steel bend structures have the potential to withstand these elements, industrialist makes use of it in difficult projects. 

 Stainless steel is fit for marine purposes

You should consider many factors while choosing which kind of stainless steel is apt for your project. These include:

• Seawater quality
•  Water flow rates
• Water temperature
• Water oxygen levels (deaeration)
• Engineered crevices (Cleaning of surface post-fabrication)
• Cathodic protection

 There are many types of stainless steel bends, and each area has different benefits and usages. Let’s scrutinize them:

• 304 stainless steel bends are the first type. Applications such as splash zone applications, coastal service environments, and intermittent submersion in seawater make use of it. The metal fittings save the body of the pipes which are exposed fully to fresh water.

• Super-austenitic stainless steels like 6% moly are advised for applications where they will be permanently submerged in seawater. 6% Moly is a super-austenitic stainless steel marine fitting that contains a minimum of 6% molybdenum. 6% Moly alloys have exemplary resistance to several chemicals, which are particularly appropriate for environments such as seawater, brackish water, and pulp mill bleach plants that have a high chloride condition

• With higher strength, duplex stainless steel can be used in lighter components, just like the application of 316. Duplex stainless steel bends are commonly found in brackish water, for example, in estuaries. It protects from the content of chloride in the water, which is less than that of the open sea.

• Super duplex stainless steel grants even more strength and weight than that duplex and can withstand all the challenges of marine surroundings because it has higher corrosion-resistant power, including hot and tropical waters, and wet applications. They can also be used in prolonged and direct contact with seawater, such as, on offshore oil platforms.

Examples of stainless steel in marine applications

There are many types of stainless steel bends such as:

• Marine and coastal applications such as housings for equipment, handrails, ladders, and lamp posts.
• Deck components for ships and boats, for instance: anchor ropes in brackets, deck eyes housings for equipment, handrails, and shackles.
• Items submerged in water and always in contact need stainless steel bends, for example, pipes, sewage, and water, risers for oil platforms, and coastal power plants, pipelines and grills for oil, heat exchangers for ships, equipment attached to hulls of boats and ships, grills, etc.

Conclusion

Innovators continue their research to discover new uses of stainless steel bends every day, to incorporate them into day-to-day uses.