The necessity of Stainless Steel pipes in the Nuclear Industry
Many nuclear power stations are situated on the coast and use sea water for cooling which again calls for special piping resistant to the high corrosiveness of saltwater. Stainless steel pipes and tubes when manufactured to the required standards are more than adequate for the long, harsh duty cycles required when utilised in a reactor environment.
Today, nuclear power is only possible by virtue of the superb qualities of the construction materials available and none are more important than the stainless steel pipes which carry steam at high pressure and high temperatures which make the operation of the electricity producing turbines possible.
There are a number of different types of Stainless Steels, which are characterised according to their crystalline structure. For example, when nickel is added, the austenite structure is stabilised, making steel that is both non-magnetic and less brittle at low temperatures.
Nickel is an extremely adaptable element and has a great range of helpful properties such as heat and corrosion resistance, electrical and magnetic capabilities as well as a low expansion level. As an added benefit, it can also be easily bonded with a number of different alloys.
Nickel’s adaptability and natural properties make it a very useful metal. This has resulted in it being used to make a wide variety of nickel alloys. One of the commercial uses of nickel alloy is in nuclear power systems.
