Flanges make a vital connection in industries when it comes to valves, piping, and other equipment. They also provide an easy point of access for modification, inspection, cleaning, and necessary repairs. A flanged joint provides a strong seal in a closed system.
In heavy industries, the flanges need to be resilient, and they prove to be the weak point in a system if not selected properly. It is therefore essential to ensure that the flanges you choose are up to the task.
USE OF STAINLESS STEEL FLANGES IN INDUSTRIES
Stainless steel comes in with the same standard carbon and iron compositions, along with nickel and trace amounts of other elements. But one thing that makes it stand out is that it also contains chromium. It is an alloy that gives corrosion resistance, and therefore a stainless finish.
Most of the more expensive grades come with high resistance to corrosion. Chemicals, rust, and other environmental factors take a toll on metals. It is the reason why the flange choice must be the one that is resistant to these factors. Stainless steel easily outperforms comparison to other entry-level metals that are variants of carbon steel.
The functioning of stainless steel is that it is durable and incredibly sturdy for most applications, and that can it withstand immense pressures. If you compare, aluminum may come as a cheaper option, but it is softer and unreliable under heavy stress and extreme temperature variations.
Any piece or system of equipment is only as robust as its weakest part. Welds and joints are known to be weak points and need to withstand very high pressure. The correct grade of stainless steel flange is helpful to ensure that no deformation or warping would compromise the system.
BENEFITS OF USING STAINLESS STEEL FLANGE
Stainless steel flanges are essential in industries like beverage, food, water, gas, and transport. It also provides several benefits, a few of these including:
Corrosion and stain resistance:
Stainless steel flanges are excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and many corrosive media. It is resistant to crevice and pitting corrosion in warm chloride environments. It is also resistant to corrosion that cracks below approximately 60°C.
Versatility and strength:
You can add different materials like nitrogen, molybdenum, nickel to stainless steel to enhance the corrosion-resistant properties. ASTM A182 specified flanges can handle extreme temperatures and have higher strength at elevated temperatures above 500°C up to about 800°C.
Appearance:
Stainless steel flange are one of the excellent choices for commercial establishments. The reason is that the material has a naturally elegant and shiny look compared to weathered carbon.
Value:
When you use stainless steel flange, you buy durable products that will help your projects last longer for decades. It is a reliable material that is easy to install and maintain. Stainless steel is one of the low-maintenance metals because of its non-corrosive properties. It is unlikely that it needs a replacement for decades.
Environment-friendly:
You can use stainless steel in all types of water. Applications include drinking water in public supply. The flanges have excellent resistance to the full range of potable waters, including various chloride levels.
Stainless steel is not a petroleum product in and of itself. It doesn’t need to be lined or coated with any materials at all, unlike some other materials. When you want to dispose of or replace the steel flanges, they are scrap-friendly and recyclable – helpful in reducing the environmental impact.
Material benefits:
The combination of corrosion resistance with high strength allows a reduction in flange weight and thickness. Stainless steel can withstand even high flow rates – over 40m/s – that makes it capable of resisting even long-term exposure to the elements in almost any environment.
Economic benefits:
Stainless steel flanges are low maintenance and do not have an additional coating for outdoor and indoor applications. The expected lifetime of a stainless steel system is for more than 50 years. It helps in reducing the maintenance, replacement, and downtime costs over the life of the installation.
No blasting, painting, or welding:
When you use flanges, there is no requirement to weld the pipe spools. In the same way, blasting and painting also become unnecessary, unlike other methods and fittings.
Ease of modification and fast fabrication:
Flange use can help in speeding up the process. If you are all ready to take the benefits of flanges, you can look here to get a complete range of stainless steel flanges with us.
