Non-ferrous Material – Copper, Nickel, Aluminum, Titanium and their Alloys

Non-ferrous materials are a small part of the total piping materials, and they are used in a very aggressive environment. Non-ferrous material contains no iron or in a very insignificant amount.

These materials are more expensive than ferrous metals. Some of the non-ferrous materials used in Process Industries are listed below. The non-ferrous materials are also known as exotic materials.

• Copper and Copper Alloys
• Nickel and Nickel Alloys
• Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys
• Titanium and Titanium Alloys
• And Zirconium and Zirconium Alloys

 Copper and Copper Alloys

• Good thermal conductivity and good corrosion resistance
• Brasses, Bronzes (Cu-Sn) and Cupronickels (Cu-Ni) are some examples of the copper alloy
• Cupronickels have the highest corrosion resistance among Cu alloys
• Cupronickels are used for heat exchanger tubing and seawater application
• It can be used as a cladding material with carbon steel in heat exchanger tube sheets.

 Nickel and Nickel Alloys

• Good resistance to oxidation and corrosion
• Monel 400 and Hastelloy are well-known examples of nickel alloys
• These alloys are used in piping systems, pressure vessels, turbine blades, valves, and power plant accessories that handle steam at very high pressure and temperature
• Nickel alloys are frequently used as a cladding material with carbon steel

 Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

• Good thermal conductivity
• It is the most workable metal
• Highly resistant to atmospheric conditions
• But When coupled with more noble materials, it is subject to galvanic attack.
• And Loses strength rapidly above 175°C
• Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys are rarely used in process piping
• However, it is used as an external cladding material to protect the insulation from water ingress.

Image – Geo Thermal

 Titanium and Titanium Alloys

• High strength to weight ratio
• Like SS, Titanium Oxide is formed on the surface, preventing corrosion.
• Titanium and Titanium alloy are resistant to nitric acid, which is very corrosive. Hence, it is used in this kind of process environment.
• However, an inert atmosphere is required for welding Titanium and Titanium Alloys.
• It starts losing its strength above 400°C
• Titanium is also used as a clade material with carbon steel to reduce the cost of equipment.

Zirconium and Zirconium Alloys

• Zirconium and Zirconium Alloys are used, where strong acids and alkalis are present, where other materials cannot be used due to the very aggressive environment.