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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Corrosion Resistance to mid-strength sulfuric Acid

March 14, 2013

Q. Hi,

We are looking for a material suitable for use in battery manufacturing, meaning in frequent (but not constant) contact with ~40% sulfuric acid at temperatures in the 40 °C range.

What materials or finishes (SS grades, powder coats, plating etc.) would be appropriate for this environment, without going into exotic alloys etc.?

Thank you,

Trent Reeb
Designer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A. Hi. Trent. If practical, I'd make the items out of vinyl ester resin fiberglass. If they need to be metal, plastisol coating is inexpensive and pretty reliable. Teflon coating is more expensive than plastisol but can probably be thinner. Making the items out of 304 or 316 stainless and then plastisol coating them would make them more robust in the event of a cut in the coating. Titanium construction sounds like a possibility.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 15, 2013

March 22, 2013

A. Sir:

Ordinary steel with a baked on plastisol coating works well. Perhaps zirconium would work.

Dr. Thomas H. Cook
Galvanizing Consultant - Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA

March 27, 2013

Q. Thanks very much for your responses.

I would prefer to stick with stainless construction. We commonly use TGIC polyester on aluminum parts, would this, applied over sandblasted 304 SS, survive intermittent contact with sulfuric acid?

I'm not concerned so much with discoloration or dulling of the finish, however there must be long term resistance to peeling, and of course mechanical failure due to corrosion.

Thanks again.

Trent Reeb
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A. Hi Trent. Myself and Dr. Cook tried to give you what we thought would be the minimum approach that will work. I doubt that TGIC polyester will suffice, but I could be wrong of course. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 30, 2013

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