Resistance table - your tool for a safer operation

When handling flows of corrosive liquids, safety is important. With a resistance table as a tool, you can easily see which material is recommended for your applications. Lyma explains!

When handling corrosive and abrasive liquids, there is one factor that is of paramount importance: safety. Many chemicals can be flammable, poisonous and corrosive, and under no circumstances should they come into contact with people or other materials. To minimise the risk of leaks and accidents, it is therefore important to take extra care when choosing the right materials for the products that will handle the liquid.

What is a resistance table?

To ensure that the materials that come into contact with the fluid are resistant to its properties, a resistance table can be used. A resistance table provides information on the resistance of different materials to different types of liquids. All liquids have different properties depending on their concentration and temperature, which the resistance table takes into account.

For example, if you are going to handle nitric acid with a concentration of 60% and a temperature of 40°C, you can see in a resistance table which type of material should be used. Remember to always include height in your calculations and preferably choose a material with slightly better resistance to ensure a safe flow. A resistance table should always be seen as a recommendation and guide only.

Material choice is crucial

Using the right material for the right media is not only important for the safety of your process, but also for durability. By choosing a durable material with high resistance to the fluid, you increase the lifespan of your equipment and process while reducing the risk of unexpected failures or stoppages. Planned maintenance stops instead of unplanned maintenance stops improve your operating economy.

Plastic superior to metal

When it comes to handling corrosive liquids and media in different types of pumps, valves and pipework, plastics are preferable to metallic solutions. Due to their good material properties, plastics are superior to most metals in corrosive applications and in most cases a more cost-effective material compared to metals. However, current temperature and operating pressure must be considered when selecting plastics.

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Different types of plastics

Plastics come in many different guises and to make it easier to read a resistance table, it is good to know some of the most common types of plastic.

• Thermosetting plastic
  By mixing two components that are allowed to harden, you get a new plastic. It is a plastic that cannot be moulded or melted. It is used together with other materials to create glass fibre reinforced plastics (GAP).
• Thermoplastic
  Plastic that can be melted down and reshaped. Comes in many different varieties such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene or polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• Fluorinated plastic
  Heat resistant and resilient plastic, resistant to most chemicals. Available in many different varieties such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and perfluoroalkoxy alkanes (PFA).

40 years of experience

At Lyma, we have been working with corrosive liquids for over 40 years. We have extensive experience in material selection and can help you to more easily combine the right material for your liquid.
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