Chemical reactor materials selection
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Chemical reactor materials selection is an important aspect in the design of a chemical reactor. There are four main groups of chemical reactors - CSTR, PFR, semi-batch, and catalytic - with variations on each. Depending on the nature of the chemicals involved in the reaction, as well as the operating conditions (e.g. temperature and pressure), certain materials will perform better over others.
There are several broad classes of materials available for use in creating a chemical reactor. Some examples include metals, glasses, ceramics, polymers, carbon, and composites.[2] Metals are the most common class of materials for chemical engineering equipment as they are comparatively easy to manufacture, have high strength, and are resistant to fracture. Glass is common in chemical laboratory equipment, but highly prone to fracture and so is not useful in large-scale industrial use. Ceramics are not that common of a material for chemical reactors as they are brittle and difficult to manufacture. Polymers have begun to gain more popularity in piping and valves as they aid in temperature stability. There are several forms of carbon, but the most useful form for reactors is carbon or graphite fibers in composites.[3]