Not Just Another Pretty Face.
Gas pressure regulators are beautiful pieces of hardware. Perfectly machined. Brilliantly finished.
But we often ask these handsome products to do the dirty work of handling some pretty nasty chemicals.
More Than Meets the Eye.
The corrosion you see could also be causing a physical problem that you can't see. Possibly leading to a failed connection or a regulator seat that won't seal.
A failed connection can of course lead to a leak (of a chemical you probably don't want to leak), which further compromises the connection.
Keep in mind that the corrosion you see and touch can itself be toxic.
Corrosive Gases
The list of commonly used corrosive gases includes ammonia, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, nitric oxide and others.
When using these gases the correct selection of equipment is critical.
Importantly, these chemicals do not need to be at high concentrations in order to cause problems.
These gases are capable of burning and destroying organic tissue (human tissue) on contact, representing a threat to people on the job.
Corrosive gases can also attack and corrode metals, interfering with your equipment's performance, and reducing its lifespan.
You can't neutralize the gas, and no choice of material will eliminate corrosion. But you can make equipment choices that resist corrosion, and that minimize the impact of corrosion (the health and safety impact, as well as the financial impact).
Very well done and informative! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks. As time goes by, we will build the content out, and make it more practical. Next entry planned is Part 2 of the Corrosives story, which will include information about materials and specific model recommendations.
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