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Material Selection is one of the most important considerations when constructing a fluid system. Check out what Swagelok's own, Matt Dixon has to say about the matter!

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Technical Leader | Fluid Systems Expert | Educator

Did you know that stainless steel and other metals can burn? They don't typically burn in open air, but they certainly can in a high-pressure, enriched oxygen environment, as I noted in my previous post about #oxygen and the #FireTriangle. (See link in comments.) When working with high-pressure oxygen systems, proper material selection, combined with effective cleaning/filtration, can break the fuel leg of the triangle, minimizing the chances of a fire. Make sure to carefully select metals that are burn-resistant for the process conditions. Brass, copper, and alloy 400 are among the best choices for metallic components, showing extraordinary burn-resistance across a wide pressure range. 300 series stainless steels can also often be used at pressures below 10 bar but use them very cautiously, especially at higher pressures. Generally, avoid aluminum and carbon steel, which have been shown to be flammable, even at low pressures. In addition to metallic components, pay attention to the plastics and elastomers in the system. They will all be flammable, but steer towards materials with a higher auto-ignition temperatures. Choose materials such as PTFE and PEEK over acetal or polyethylene. Likewise, choose FKM or FFKM over EPDM or Nitrile. The higher auto-ignition temperature will make them more resistant to some of the more common ignition mechanisms, which I will cover in some upcoming posts. Stay tuned! Note: Photo shows an aluminum oxygen regulator that caught fire due to particle impact. Image courtesy of WHA International, Inc.

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Jerome Callaghan

Sales Manager @ BayoTech Hydrogen | Account Management

2mo

Great picture that tells a thousand words Matt Dixon!

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