News

Stainless steel tee and cross material selection need to consider the use of the environment, media characteristics, cost and other factors, the following is the specific selection method:
Consider the use of the environment
General industrial environment: usually choose 304 stainless steel material. Such as in the ordinary industrial piping system, conveying general water, air, steam and other media, 304 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and mechanical properties, to meet the requirements of long-term stable operation, and cost-effective.
Harsh corrosive environment: 316L stainless steel is a better choice when the medium is highly corrosive in such environments as chemical production and marine engineering. For example, in the piping system of seawater desalination plant, 316L stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance to chlorine ions, which can effectively prevent pitting and crevice corrosion, and prolong the service life of pipe fittings.
High-temperature environment: In high-temperature environments, such as high-temperature steam piping in the electric power industry, high-temperature-resistant stainless steel materials, such as 321 stainless steel, can be used. It has added titanium elements to improve the resistance to intergranular corrosion at high temperatures, and can maintain good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance under high-temperature conditions.
Consider the characteristics of the medium
Acid and alkaline medium: If the medium to be conveyed is acidic or alkaline solution, the material should be selected according to the concentration and type of acid and alkali. For low concentration of organic or inorganic acids, 304 stainless steel may meet the requirements; but for high concentrations of strong acids, such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc., 316L stainless steel or higher corrosion-resistant stainless steel is more appropriate. For alkaline media, general 304 stainless steel can also have good corrosion resistance, but in high concentration of strong alkali environment, need to consider the material of stress corrosion cracking resistance.
Food-grade media: in food, beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries, the material is required to be non-toxic, harmless, in line with health standards. 304 stainless steel and 316L stainless steel have good hygiene performance, smooth and easy-to-clean surface, easy to breed bacteria, to meet the requirements of food-grade media transportation. Among them, 316L stainless steel has better corrosion resistance, which is more suitable for some occasions with very high hygiene requirements.
Consider the cost factor
Cost difference: the cost of stainless steel tees and crosses of different materials is different. Generally speaking, 304 stainless steel price is relatively low, cost-effective, suitable for most common application scenarios; 316L stainless steel is more expensive due to its higher alloy content, but in specific high corrosion environments, it can be reflected in its economy by reducing the cost of maintenance and replacement; and some special high corrosion and high temperature resistant stainless steel materials, such as 904L stainless steel, cost more, usually used for Extreme corrosion or special requirements of the high-end field.
Comprehensive cost assessment: when choosing materials, not only the initial purchase cost, but also need to consider the whole life cycle cost. For example, in a long-term operation of the chemical piping system, if the use of ordinary material pipe fittings may be damaged by frequent corrosion and need to be replaced frequently, resulting in increased maintenance costs and losses of production stoppage, when the choice of high corrosion resistance but higher cost of materials, in the long term may be more economical.
Consider regulatory and standards requirements
Industry norms: different industries have corresponding norms and standards for piping materials. For example, in the petrochemical industry, usually follow the ASME, API and other standards; in the construction of water supply and drainage industry, need to comply with GB/T and other relevant national standards. When choosing stainless steel tee and cross material, we must ensure that the selected material meets the industry specifications to ensure the safety and reliability of the system.
Special requirements: For some special areas, such as aerospace, nuclear industry, etc., the material requirements are more stringent, not only to meet the conventional performance indicators, but also need to meet special quality standards and certification requirements. In these areas, special certified high-performance stainless steel materials are often used to ensure the safety and stability of fittings under extreme conditions.