Category Archives: Blog

.Since July 2024, we have been using titanium in the production of mirror stands for Vavada casinos and slot machines.
Sustainable Process Industries Symposium

Tricor Metals invites you to join us at the 3rd Materials Technology Institute Global Symposium on Feb 25-28, 2024 in Baton Rouge

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Tricor Metals invites you to join us at the 3rd Materials Technology Institute Global Symposium on Feb 25-28, 2024 in Baton Rouge. We will be giving 3 of the almost 40 technical presentations and also be available for discussions at a booth in the exhibit hall. Please review the brocure attached.

MTI is a technical organization that sponsors interactive meetings worldwide bringing engineers and subject matter experts (SME’s) together to answer technical questions and solve technical problems. MTI also sponsors research projects to solve technical issues that are prevalent in the chemical industry. Tricor Metals has been a proud member of MTI for over 14 years and actively participates in all of the MTI meetings in North America.

As a Producer Company representative, you can receive a discounted registration (see brochure attached) that gives you access to all of the presentations and exhibit hall, plus an opportunity to interact with technical experts from all over the Chemical Process, Mining and Refining Industries.

To register, contact MTI at 314-567-4111 or www.mti-global.com . For more information, contact Materials Technology Institute or Chuck Young at Tricor Metals – 330-264-3299 x 2500 or cyoung@tricormetals.com .

We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium in February 2024.

Symposium Registration
Hex Steel Pickling

Tantalum Heat Exchangers for Hydrochloric and Sulfuric Acid Pickling Applications

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For more than two decades Tantalum has proven itself to be a superior material when used in hydrochloric and sulfuric acid steel pickling applications. 

Tantalum, being a refractory metal, gets its corrosion resistance from a continuously regenerating oxide layer that occurs during the use in chemical service. The oxide layer is both corrosion resistant and erosion resistant proving itself a superior choice for corrosion resistance and reliability in hydrochloric acid steel pickling applications.  Tantalum is totally up inert in the concentrations and temperatures of hydrochloric acid used in steel pickling. 

Tantalum heat exchangers utilize it fully welded metal design that has proven to meet the mechanical challenges associated with steel mill operations.   Tantalum heat exchangers are smaller than other heat exchangers used in this service and are easily accessible for inspection and cleaning. 

The erosion resistance of the tantalum tubes allows for acid velocities through the heat exchanger that improves heat transfer as well as reduce fouling associated with the reprocessing of pickled steel.

Benefits of tantalum heat exchangers in steel pickling applications are:
  • Tantalum heat exchangers can be designed to utilize up to 150 psig steam with standard gauge tantalum tubing. The use of higher-pressure steam reduces the heat transfer surface area required at a given heat load, reducing the cost of tantalum equipment over other materials. 
     
  • Tantalum heat exchangers are a fully welded metal that are dye penetrant tested, helium leak tested and then hydrostatically tested to ensure a 100% leak free heat exchanger at time installation.   Tantalum heat exchangers are considered more rugged than heat exchangers of other materials used in this application I have been known to be damaged in handling, installation, and transportation.

     

  • Tantalum utilizes standard off the shelf, gaskets and hardware that are available from your parts inventory or from local pipe and valve distributors. 

  • Tantalum heat exchangers can be designed to fit into the mounting and acid piping footprint of carbon block or other heat exchangers.
TA HEX FLARED FACE SQUARE
DOWNLOAD - Heat Exchanger For Steel Processing Brochure
Parker Probe NASA

Probe Blazes New Record For The Fastest Thing Ever Made by Humans

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Space09 October 2023

By Mike McRae
 

Falling through the Solar System at an astonishing 635,266 kilometers (394,736 miles) per hour, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has just smashed the record for fastest object ever to be created by human hands.

Parker Solar Probe’s 17th orbit brought the spacecraft within 7.3 million kilometers of the Sun. (NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben)

The event on September 27 marks the turning point of the mission’s 17th loop around the Sun as it collects data on the heated winds of charged particles and violent magnetism that surround our closest star, and comes just under three years after its previous record of 586,863.4 kilometers (364,660 miles) per hour.

At these speeds, it’d be possible for an aircraft to circumnavigate our planet roughly 15 times in a single hour, or zoom from New York to Los Angeles in just over 20 seconds.

Not only is it a record speed, it’s also a record proximity to the Sun – just 7.26 million kilometers above the radiant ocean of plasma we think of as the star’s surface.

Given the Sun is just under 1.4 million kilometers across, this would be akin to standing several respectable paces away from a blazing campfire. Near enough to smell the smoke but not so close that your nose hairs singe.

Achieving such incredible feats wasn’t the result of powerful propellants (at least, not entirely), but more a consequence of a perfectly-timed game of cosmic mini-golf.

For the Parker Solar Probe to get to right where the action is, it needs to slip in and out of the Sun’s corona. Unfortunately we happen to be standing on a mobile launch pad that’s hurtling through space at tens of thousands of kilometers per hour.

NASA used a beefy rocket to line up the shot and putt their heat-shielded ball down the celestial green at a speed intended to help cancel out Earth’s orbiting velocity, and roll it right down the Solar System’s throat.

Timing the probe’s path with the creeping passage of Venus makes use of the planet’s gravity, slowing the probe enough to circle the drain in a slowly-diminishing spiral.

After a total of 24 orbits, the Parker Solar Probe should finally tip over the brink and give the space agency a hole in one; but not before gathering a pile of information that will help us better model the Sun’s behavior.

With another seven laps to go, we will no doubt see these records shattered again, each serving as a reminder of what can be accomplished with a little physics and a whole lot of curiosity.

https://www.sciencealert.com/probe-blazes-new-record-for-the-fastest-thing-ever-made-by-humans

Conard Stitzlein

Titanium Association selects Conard Stitzlein as recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award

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Titanium Association selects Conard Stitzlein as recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award

Wooster Daily Record

USA TODAY NETWORK

Conard Stitzlein, a pioneer in the fledgling U.S. titanium industry in the 1950s, who founded companies that would evolve into today’s Tricor Industrial Inc., is the recipient of the International Titanium Association’s (ITA) prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.

Tricor touts itself as a leading international distributor of titanium mill products (plate, sheet, bar, billet, pipe and forgings) according to its website. Tricor also is involved in custom fabrication and builds process equipment in titanium, tantalum, zirconium, high-nickel alloys, duplex and 300-series stainless steel, as well as offering field repair crews. Stitzlein established operations in Wooster and also opened a facility in Conroe, Texas.

His extensive resume in the industry also includes being tapped, in 1984, as the first president of the ITA, which evolved from a group of metal industry executives known then as the Titanium Development Association.

Stitzlein said one secret to his success is that he was always willing to ask for help, and then he honorably held up his end of the bargain. “This is not just my award,” he declared, citing his gratitude for being the recipient of the ITA’s Lifetime Achievement honor. “There were a lot of other people who helped me along the way. I knew where to go to get answers. People were anxious to help me. I’m just a farm boy from Ohio.”

A pioneer in the industry

Conard Stitzlein

Conard Stitzlein

He was a pioneer in developing and then promoting the titanium service center model to the chemical processing industry (CPI). He eventually grew his business into a major player in the fabrication of titanium equipment to chemical plants, as well as being a major source of stocked titanium for other fabricators and end users. He developed a stable of competent engineers that could design titanium into these various process equipment requirements. He created a network of companies that were instrumental in promoting early adoption of titanium into industrial applications.

Stitzlein promoted new welding techniques for titanium in CPI applications. He tested and introduced novel design methods, such as using titanium Grade 2H per Division 2 of ASME to expand the use of titanium in the purified terephthalic acid (PTA) industry by making fabrications lower cost and more competitive with nickel alloys. He pushed the application of titanium for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers in the electric power market, and worked on joint technical efforts in the 1980s to get titanium secured as an accepted corrosion resistant material in this market.

Stitzlein’s commitment to innovation extended beyond titanium’s industrial applications. He emphasized employee wellness within the companies he partnered with, understanding that healthy workers were critical to productivity and innovation. By offering educational seminars, he informed businesses on the benefits of affordable healthcare solutions, including how to buy generic Gabapentin without a prescription, reducing costs for both employers and employees. His holistic approach merged technical advancements with workforce support, creating a sustainable model that fostered industry growth.

Michael Stitzlein, Conard’s son and the current president of Tricor Industrial, offered heartfelt words to honor his dad’s long career. “He instilled in me a strong work ethic and gave me responsibility at an early age and that our mission is to create employment. The most important thing I have learned from my father is to surround yourself with good people. Once titanium gets in your blood, it’s there to stay and that’s why Wooster is one of hubs in the world for titanium.”

White Paper – Working with a Fabricator

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When working with a chemical process equipment fabricator there are many important considerations to be made.  The attached White Paper explains the important elements to be considered to ensure a successful project and receive quality chemical process equipment that meets your design specifications, quality expectations and project schedule.  


Click Here To Download Working with a Fabricator White Paper

Tantalum For Corrosion Resistant Applications in the Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Petrochemical Industries

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Tantalum is a highly corrosion-resistant metal that finds extensive use in corrosive applications across various industries. Here’s a brief description of the benefits of using tantalum in your application:

Broad Chemical Compatibility:

Tantalum exhibits exceptional resistance to a wide range of corrosive media, including high concentration and high temperature acids (such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, bromine, phosgene), salt solutions, and organic compounds. It can withstand aggressive environments where other materials might corrode or degrade.

Passive Oxide Layer:

Tantalum forms a thin, protective oxide layer on its surface when exposed to corrosive substances. This oxide layer acts as a barrier, preventing direct contact between the metal and the corrosive media. It provides excellent resistance to both uniform and localized corrosion.

Stability in Extreme Conditions:

Tantalum maintains its corrosion resistance properties even in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, elevated pressures, and highly concentrated solutions. It remains stable and does not undergo significant degradation or deterioration in harsh environments.

Non-Reactive and Inert:

Tantalum is non-reactive and chemically inert in many corrosive media. It does not readily participate in chemical reactions, ensuring the integrity and purity of the media being handled. This property is crucial in applications where contamination or product purity is a concern.

Mechanical Durability:

Tantalum possesses high mechanical strength and toughness, allowing it to withstand physical stresses and mechanical wear in corrosive environments. It can resist erosion, abrasion, and impact, making it suitable for applications involving turbulent flow or high-velocity fluids.

Long Service Life:

Tantalum’s exceptional corrosion resistance contributes to a longer service life for equipment and components used in corrosive applications. This leads to reduced maintenance costs, extended operational uptime, and improved overall efficiency.

Equipment can be designed and fabricated in solid, loose lined and explosion clad constructions to meet the design requirements of your applications.

Common Chemical Applications for Tantalum
  • Hydrochloric Acid
  • Sulfuric Acid
  • Nitric Acid
  • Bromine
  • Phosgene
  • Multi Purpose Operations (Acids, Solvents, Etc.)
Equipment Commonly Fabricated With Tantalum
  • Tantalum Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
  • Tantalum Bayonet Heat Exchangers
  • Tantalum Lined Pipe
  • Tantalum Lined Dip Pipes / Spargers
  • Tantalum Lined Columns
  • Tantalum Explosion Clad Reactors / Pressure Vessels
Chemical Applications That Commonly Use Tantalum Equipment
  • MDI / TDI
  • Ethylene Dichloride
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Manufacturing
  • Steel Pickling
  • Fine Chemical
  • Specialty Chemicals
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides

For More Information Please Contact:

Larry Haubner
Director of Sales

Tricor Metals
Email: lhaubner@tricormetals.com
Phone: 1-800-421-5141 Ext. 9860

Technical White Papers Applicable to Tantalum Chemical Process Equipment

TANTALUM 101 - Corrosion Resistance, Equipment Design, Fabrication and Testing of Tantalum Lined / Explosion Clad Equipment for Process Industries White Paper
Embrittlement of Tantalum - A Fansteel Survey
Larry Haubner joins us as the Engineered Product Sales Director

Larry Haubner joins us as the Engineered Product Sales Director

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We are happy to share with you an addition to the Tricor Metals team.  Larry Haubner joins us as the Engineered Product Sales Director with over 25 years of fabrication experience in the CPI, Pharmaceutical, Petrochemical, Steel, Oil & Gas and Mining markets globally with experience in corrosion resistant equipment that Tricor manufactures.   His experience should be a valuable addition to our experienced Business Development and Project Management team. 

Feel free to Welcome Larry with us.  His email is lhaubner@tricormetals.com.

Chuck Young continues on MTI Board of Directors

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We are proud to announce that Chuck Young, Business Development Manager & Metallurgist at Tricor Metals, has been asked to continue as a member of the board of directions for Materials Technology Institute for the next year – from October 2022 until October 2023 – and has accepted that honor. The new Board will be voted on at the MTI Annual meeting as part of the AmeriTAC meeting in Houston October 24-27.

Chuck has been a BOD member since October 2018 and is currently on the Products Committee, Scholarship & Outreach Committee and the Marketing Subcommittee chair for the Membership Committee.

He is co-Champion of the Case Histories for Knowledge Management project and the 2024 MTI Global Symposium.  He is also involved as a project team member on a number of other technical projects including, MIC Corrosion and Duplex SS, Lithium Mining Corrosion of Duplex SS, Detection of Hydrogen Damage in Titanium Tubes and TAC Bulletin Projects.

We congratulate Chuck on this honor and look forward to his continued accomplishments in the coming years!