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304SS with H2S

Hello all,

I wish to know if 304SS is compatible with H2S in a normal range of <100 °C. I do not know the actual content nor concentration of H2S in process application. Thank you in advance for your comments.

Jerri N.
- London, England
2003

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300 series stainless steels are know to stress crack when exposed to sulfides.

Don Baudrand
Consultant - Poulsbo, Washington
(Don is co-author of "Plating on Plastics" [on Amazon or AbeBooks affil links]
           and "Plating ABS Plastics" [on Amazon or eBay or AbeBooks affil links])
2003

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It depends upon a lot of things, of course. Is the H2S an impurity or part of the product that you are housing in the 304ss? If it is an impurity it may be possible to put something in the tank to drop out the sulfide as a solid precipitate without affecting your process.

Small concentrations may not be a problem. How long is the process going before you do PM? Is this a tank or vessel of some kind? Make sure it is diked.

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

2003