globefab

New Year, New Website

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 04:02:38 GMT

NEW YEAR, NEW WEBSITE

December 4, 2014

Thank you for taking the time to read our first blog post here at the redesigned Globe website. Over the last six months, Globe has been on a mission to overhaul our website and showcase our expertise as an industry leader.

The modern landscape for the pipe and vessel fabrication world is moving at a dizzying pace. Here at Globe, we see the opportunity to not only assist our customers with their pipe fabrication needs, but to share pertinent, up-to-date news and information about all of the issues affecting our industry.

With our new website, Globe will be gathering and sharing news and opinions, both domestically and internationally, that affect refining, gas collection, petrochemical, and power production here in the United States.

Globe’s website will keep you abreast – from rising nickel prices moving the price of hastelloy to labor shortages across the country – it is one more way that we intend to bring value to every interaction you have with Globe. Our goal is to earn our customers’ confidence in knowing that no pipe fabricator in the country is working harder to stay on top of the market and deliver the highest-quality products on time.

Please join us every month here on the website, Google+ or Facebook , as we endeavor to make Globe synonymous with excellence in nickel alloy, carbon steel and chrome moly fabrication. Have a great day, and please give us a call at (812) 949-2001 if there is anything we can do for you.

Metalwork Explained: What is Heat Treatment?

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:56:30 GMT

WHAT IS HEAT TREATMENT?: A GUIDE TO THE TYPES & BENEFITS OF HEAT TREATMENT

February 11, 2019

Long before our modern metalworking techniques, craftsmen relied on heat to make their materials workable. No matter how long it took, or how complicated the process was, once those heated metals were formed into the necessary shapes, they were then cooled, either rapidly or slowly depending on the goals of the blacksmith. But just like today, the quicker the metals were cooled, the harder they would become – and vice versa for slow-cooled metals.

Of course, after decades of industrial refinement, today’s heat-treating techniques are much more sophisticated, allowing for highly impressive levels of precision and swiftness, regardless of whether you’re working with nickel, aluminum, incoloy, or any number of other materials.

In this blog, we’re going to break down each of the heat treating services we implement in our own facilities to give you a better idea of how modern heat treating works, why it’s done, and how different techniques are used to create metals of varying strengths, elasticities, shapes, and even colors.

Let’s get to work!

The Stress Relieving Procedure

In the majority of cases, the stress relieving procedure is an essential part of the overall heat treatment process. That’s because the manufacturing and fabrication processes will often cause a build-up of stress in materials. Too much stress can cause deformities in the materials, leading to unwanted stretching, compression, and various other types of strain that can inadvertently alter a material’s dimensions. So, to prevent these unwanted dimension changes from accidentally occurring, the stress relieving procedure is done on various parts to reduce internal stress.

The typical stress relieving heat treatment process involves heating your components to an appropriate temperature, then holding them there long enough for the entire part to reach this temperature. Doing this allows all of the part’s stresses to be relieved, leaving you with a much more resilient part that’s much less prone to dimensional distortion. The materials that benefit the most from the stress relieving heat treatment process are ones with tighter tolerances, larger weldments, or ones that have undergone a significant amount of stock removal.

The Annealing Procedure

Annealing is another popular heat treating method, which is used to prepare various materials for the manufacturing process. Whenever a metal is annealed, it’s heated to the ideal temperature, then kept there long enough for re-crystallization to occur. Arguably, the most important part of the entire annealing process is the cooldown, which must be done at a very slow, very controlled rate to achieve the desired effect.

The main reason a product undergoes annealing is to reduce its hardness so it can be machined with greater ease. However, sometimes metals are softened up to increase their electrical conductivity, to restore their ductility, or to make them softer and therefore more reactive to cold working.

The Tempering Procedure

In most instances, tempering is done to improve the fortitude of an iron alloy so it can hold up during more intensive processing procedures. One of the defining characteristics of tempering is that it requires the alloy to be heated to a temperature below the critical melting point, but this temperature could range dramatically depending on the alloy you’re working with. For example, it could go as low as 400 degrees, or as high as 1,300 degrees, all depending on the particular materials you’re working with. Regardless of the temperature, however, the alloy is always then cooled by air.

Even more interesting is the fact that tempering will affect the color of your materials based on the amount of heat to which they are exposed, and metal workers will often use different colors to identify when the tempering process should be finished. Anything from light yellow, purple, brown, or various shades of blue can be used to indicate when the heated properties are finished. As a general rule of thumb, the deeper the color, the higher the temperature at which the material was tempered. After finishing the tempering process, the alloy is now much easier to shape, cut, and file, a critical component of the manufacturing process.

The Precipitation Hardening Procedure

Precipitation hardening – otherwise known as “age hardening” or even “particle hardening” – is a heat treatment method used to increase both the hardness and the yield of certain materials. It’s also one of the most popular techniques for strengthening materials.

With precipitation hardening, the treated parts are first machined in soft conditions before being hardened at relatively low temperatures. Different strengths and conditions can be achieved by altering the timing and temperatures of the precipitation-hardening treatments, but the end result is always the same: a stronger, harder material.

Indeed, the overall duration of the process can vary quite drastically, ranging in time from one hour to several; it all depends on the characteristics of the materials you’re working with. Nickel, magnesium, titanium, aluminum, and stainless steels are all good candidates for this sort of treatment, as are certain hybrids such as aluminum-copper, copper-tin, magnesium-aluminum, and so on.

The Hydrogen Bakeout Procedure

The hydrogen bakeout process involves heating up your steel, then giving it plenty of time for the molecular hydrogen to diffuse out of the steel, leaving it much more susceptible to welding than it was before.

Interestingly, however, there are no industry-wide standards or regulations for the exact times and temperatures required to bake out enough hydrogen in any given material. Naturally, this can be a cause of confusion in some cases, but at Globe LLC, we have our set of own rules related to hydrogen baking. Still, even these are flexible based upon the exact needs of a particular job or task, as well as the type of material that’s being worked on.

Want the Benefits of Heat Treatment for Your Most Valuable Materials?

Don’t just send your million-dollar part to anyone! To experience the full benefits of heat treatment, send it to someone with the experience and knowledge to provide you with top-quality heat treating services.

Here at Globe LLC, each and every part is professionally supported on a state-of-the-art furnace. We use tightly calibrated Honeywell Controllers & Recorders, and our furnace has an upgraded Allen Bradley processor for guaranteed ramp cycles and temperatures. All components have attached certified thermocouples that measure the part throughout during the entire heat treat process. For our clients, this means you’ll always get strong, well-crafted materials possessing the ideal properties for whatever applications they’re needed for.

With 30+ years of experience, your job will be done right at Globe LLC. Contact us today to discuss your needs, or learn more about our various heat treating services , our company history , or our other custom pipe fabrication services .

The Difference Between Ferrous and Nonferrous Metals

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:46:59 GMT

FERROUS METALS VS. NONFERROUS METALS...THE DIFFERENCE MATTERS!

April 29, 2019

While both ferrous and nonferrous metals have long been used in a large array of industries to create an even larger array of products, the differences between the two metals still aren’t widely understood. However, if you run a business that’s interested in recycling your scrap metal after, say, a remodeling project or replacing aged pipes or electrical systems (for example), it really helps to learn the difference between the two to figure out what types of scrap metal make good candidates for recycling when you’re finished.

In addition, if you’re ever asked the questions, “What are ferrous metals used for?” or “What are nonferrous metals used for?,” it would be a great asset to your company’s credibility to know these answers, at least if you deal with these metals in any of their shapes and forms. It also really helps to understand which industries use what metals (and for what reasons), even if your particular company or industry isn’t using one or the other.

But, before we dive into the difference between ferrous and nonferrous metals, let’s start by quickly reviewing what they have in common!

The Difference Between Ferrous and Nonferrous Metals: A High-Level Explanation

While both ferrous and nonferrous metals are used in a variety of common products and applications that we interact with every day (including the buildings we work in, the cars we use to get there, and the homes that we eventually return to), there are actually many distinct differences between the two. However, from a high-level, it’s actually quite easy to mark these distinctions: Ferrous metals contain iron, and nonferrous metals do not contain iron.

In truth, that’s as simple as it gets! Still, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to visually differentiate between the two, and that’s what really counts for the majority of people working with these metals. In fact, being able to identify and understand what ferrous metals should be used for a task in comparison to their nonferrous counterparts is what’s truly important.

However, cost and availability also play a vital role in these distinctions, as the basic ingredients of ferrous metals (i.e., minerals like carbon and iron) are plentiful, easily accessible, and comparatively cheap. The same cannot be said for nonferrous metals such as gold and silver, which are generally much rarer and harder to obtain. When you add in the fact that nonferrous metals have a much wider range of uses, then you can begin to see why these nonferrous metals are much more valuable (and also why they’re often referred to as “precious metals”).

Now, let’s break down the difference between ferrous and nonferrous metals even more by highlighting some of the most prominent examples of ferrous metal versus the most popular examples of nonferrous metals.

Applications & Examples of Ferrous Metal Alloys

All ferrous metals are alloys, which simply means they’re made up of a combination of several metals. Another factor linking all ferrous metals is that they all contain mostly iron, with varying amounts of other elements incorporated as well. However, it’s the iron found inside ferrous metals that gives them their magnetic quality, in turn making them useful for electrical or motor applications.

Ferrous metals are also useful within the construction industry because of their durability. Skyscrapers and bridges, as well as industrial large-scale pipes, shipping containers, automobiles, and railroad tracks all rely on ferrous metals. The same is true for some of the most common household objects, such as knives, tools, and home hardware.

However, ferrous metals aren’t without some shortcomings. For example, their high carbon content often leads to easy rusting when ferrous metals are exposed to moisture or the elements, a problem that is not shared by their iron-less nonferrous counterparts.

With that high-level overview out of the way, let’s take a look at four of the most common examples of ferrous metal alloys.

Ferrous Metals List

STEEL

Steel is a combination of iron and carbon, with the carbon being used to harden the iron. More specifically, steel is made by heating and melting iron ore in furnaces, with the steel then being poured into molds to form bars. These steel bars are widely used for construction and manufacturing.

CARBON STEEL

As its name implies, carbon steel has a higher carbon composition than plain steel, making it even more durable. This makes it the ferrous metal of choice for various machine tools, and is frequently referred to as “structure steel.” This is also a staple in the construction industry, especially for tall skyscrapers and lengthy bridges that need extra strength to maintain their frameworks over long periods of time.

CAST IRON

This ferrous alloy is made up of iron, silicon, and carbon. This combination of materials gives cast iron its characteristically resistant finish that makes it perfect for use in everything from automobile engines to water pipes to stoves to utility hole covers.

WROUGHT IRON

Wrought iron contains such a small amount of carbon that it’s practically pure iron – but still contains enough to be considered an alloy. Wrought iron is typically used for things like gates, fences, chains, nails, barbed wire, and railings.

Applications & Examples of Nonferrous Metals

Due to their lightweight, coupled with their impressively high levels of durability and malleability, nonferrous metals are an appealing alternative to ferrous metals, especially within the manufacturing industry.

The lack of iron in nonferrous metals makes them more corrosion resistant than ferrous metals, which is why nonferrous metals are a prime choice for roofing projects, outdoor advertising signs, gutters, pipes, street signs, and virtually any other material or substance that is continuously exposed to the outdoor elements and harsh weather conditions. In addition, the lack of magnetism in nonferrous makes them suitable for a wide array of wiring applications.

With yet another high-level overview out of the way, we can now review four of the most common examples of nonferrous metals!

Nonferrous Metals List

ALUMINUM

Easily cast and forged, and also suitable for intense, high-temperature environments, aluminum is commonly used to build everything from aircraft materials and powerlines to food can parts and kitchen utensils.

COPPER

This highly ductile nonferrous metal has a high conductivity rate for electricity and heat, which makes it ideal for use in the electrical industry where it’s frequently used as an effective conductor. It’s also frequently used for wiring, appliances, and vehicles, as well as sheet roofing and even to help make brass.

LEAD

This soft, heavily malleable nonferrous metal features low melting point and also a low tensile strength. These traits help it withstand corrosion even more than most nonferrous metals, while also making it ideal for things like pipes, batteries, fuels, and even building construction, soldering, and electrical power cables.

ZINC

Featuring a low melting point, zinc can be machined quite easily. Zinc is a medium-strength steel as well, and the combination of these characteristics makes it perfect for use in galvanizing (i.e., applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to help fight off the accumulation of rust).

Want More Info or Insights on the Uses of Ferrous & Nonferrous Metals?

With over 30 years of experience utilizing metals both ferrous and nonferrous, the experts at Globe LLC are here to help guide you towards the right metal materials for your next fabrication project.

If you would like to learn more about the many applications of ferrous and nonferrous metals across a variety of industries, feel free to contact us today with any questions you might have!

What is Thermal Spray Coating?: A Comprehensive Overview

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:24:50 GMT

WHAT IS THERMAL SPRAY COATING?: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE THERMAL SPRAYING PROCESS

June 5, 2019

A popular practice among the best custom pipe fabricators, the practice of thermal spraying can improve, reinforce, or even restore the surface of various solid materials. While there are many different types of thermal spraying used across various industries, almost all of them have one of the following goals:

To extend the life of industrial products before they hit the market or,
To fix and repair damaged components of existing industrial products.

When done correctly, thermal spraying provides durable, long-lasting protection against corrosion. We do this by adding an additional metallic layer over our pipes, pressure vessels, and other products. It’s a cost-effective way to provide even more quality assurance to our customers, and that’s why we apply it regularly on so many of our products.

Within the custom piping industry, however, there is one issue that thermal spray coating helps to prevent, and that’s known as “corrosion under insulation.”

Corrosion Under Insulation: A Common, Yet Very Preventable, Problem

Corrosion under insulation is a common problem for almost all pipe fabricators who don’t spray coat their products, and it usually stems from water.

That’s because industrial warehouses and other facilities will almost always have a certain level of water and humidity accumulating with them. The sources of this water could be leakage, wash water, rainwater, or any number of other culprits.

It’s when this water gets trapped inside a product’s insulation alongside metal that corrosion under insulation becomes a serious threat to that product’s life cycle and durability, with the water eventually leading to the deterioration of the metal and, subsequently, the product as a whole.

The World Corrosion Organization estimates the global cost of corrosion at $2.5 trillion annually , which means CUI is an expensive threat to manufacturers and customers alike.

However, the WCO also estimates that this massive cost could be reduced by as much as 25% if more organizations took proactive measures to prevent corrosion under insulation before it occurs. Thermal spray coating just so happens to be one of the most popular and effective ways to prevent CUI in the long-term.

Now that we’ve emphasized the dangers of corrosion under insulation, as well as how to avoid them entirely with the thermal spraying process, the next thing to understand is how thermal spray coating is actually applied.

The Thermal Spray Application Process: How Does it Work?

Although there are methods and materials associated with thermal coating, the majority of thermal spray application processes begin the same way: by heating a feedstock (that is, the unprocessed or raw material used to supply a manufacturing process ).

Once the feedstock has been heated to a high enough velocity, the particles will begin to deform and freeze onto the substrate, which is any s olid substance to which another substance has been applied (and to which that second substance adheres).

In time, the deformation and freezing of these particles will result in a resilient metallic coating with millions of particles deposited on top of one another. At Globe LLC, our team members are trained to take one more essential step, and that is to manually inspect the coating.

We meticulously assess the quality and durability of the coatings after the thermal spraying process, adding yet another level of quality assurance to ensure our customers receive the highest-performing, longest-lasting pipe fabrication products possible.

Want to Learn More About Our Thermal Spray Coating Services?

With over three decades in the pipe fabrication industry, our team has amassed more than enough experience to provide top-of-the-line thermal spray coating services.

Regardless of your exact coating or integration requirements, we’re sure to have the thermal spray technologies and expertise necessary to build a high-performance solution to suit your organization.

Quality Metal Manufacturing Processes Matter

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:17:31 GMT

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY METAL MANUFACTURING SERVICES

July 15, 2019

The importance of quality metal manufacturing cannot be understated. After all, metal manufacturing companies create all sorts of products, parts, and materials that help build everything from industrial air cooler headers and gas processing plants to cars, homes, and countless other things we use on a daily basis, and yet, many people still don’t fully appreciate how essential this process really is.

However, due to the importance of these various materials in our professional and everyday lives, it makes sense why people should want only the finest metal components going into their products, parts, and materials.

That’s also why it’s so important for companies and organizations to only contract with manufacturers who can ensure that quality will always remain top of mind, no matter what sort of metal manufacturing services you require.

Here, we’ll go through some of the customary Globe procedures that help us ensure that our metal manufacturing processes deliver the highest quality product imaginable – and why that quality ultimately matters to you, the valued customer.

Managing Deviations

Managing deviations is a critical component of quality metal manufacturing. In our industry, deviations are defined as essentially anything in a design which strays from the client’s original contracted and/or agreed-upon specifications. Therefore, even the smallest of mistakes can be considered a deviation, and when it comes to quality metal manufacturing, even the smallest mistake is too large.

This is precisely why the best metal manufacturing companies always take deviations extremely seriously, as this helps to ensure that the customer’s original agreement is honored (and also, obviously, to ensure that the customer gets what he or she paid for).

Throughout the entire metal manufacturing process, every single potential deviation should be documented so it can later be reviewed by the customer. If it’s not approved by the customer, then it’s the manufacturer’s duty to start again to create a product that satisfies the client’s needs.

Focusing on Precision

Precision is very closely related to the idea of managing and avoiding deviations. Therefore, any metal manufacturing company that doesn’t prioritize precision doesn’t deserve your business.

Especially when working with intricate items such as pipes, like we frequently do at Globe, the ability to fabricate each metal component with the utmost attention-to-detail is critically important to the quality of the finished product or piping system.

So, whether the material-in-question is chrome or carbon steel , nickel alloy or stainless steel , or any type of carbon steel , your metal manufacturing company must have the prowess to fabricate pipes or other materials of varying sizes, thicknesses, lengths, or weights in order to ensure consistent quality throughout the entire system.

Ensuring precision also comes down to having a staff of well-trained and certified technicians. After all, only with extensive training can a manufacturer masterfully fabricate materials to meet a wide range of needs, all with the precision, care, and efficiency of a pro. Here at Globe, we employ 160 of the best craftsmen, fabricators, and other professionals in the industry, all certified with the latest, most up-to-date training and credentials .

Quality Control

To further ensure that materials do not deviate from their specifications or lack in the precision department, every single metal manufacturing company should establish strict quality control measures.

Fortunately, thanks to various advances in technology, ensuring that your quality control requirements are met and enforced is easier today than ever before. Even so, quality control standards and processes should still be attentively monitored and enforced to help ensure your products always come through with the highest levels of durability and precision.

When it comes to quality control, you should set uncompromising guidelines for testing products, regularly training your staff, and allocating the latest technologies and devices that will help to streamline efficiency, workflow, and – naturally – product quality.

Are You Ready to Work with a Top-Quality Metal Manufacturing Company?

Quality metalwork is the essence of what keeps countless companies across the globe in business, and it’s also what provides customers with all the modern conveniences so many of us take for granted. However, here at Globe LLC , we never take these things for granted – and that’s what drives us to go above and beyond to deliver unmatched metal manufacturing products and services.

To learn more about our commitment to high-quality metal manufacturing processes or any of our more specific custom pipe fabrication services , feel free to contact us today. We specialize in custom pipe fabrication from almost any type of metal, and with decades of experience in the industry, you can be sure that you’ll receive the very best quality imaginable.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Pipe Fabrication Company

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:10:27 GMT

LOOKING FOR A DEPENDABLE PIPE FABRICATOR? KEEP THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND!

August 20, 2019

Regardless of your company’s size or area of expertise, finding a dependable pipe fabricator is crucial. Especially within the industrial sector, where tight turnaround times are rampant and product quality is paramount, working with the best pipe fabrication companies can mean the difference between success and failure.

That’s because choosing the right custom pipe fabrication shop will directly impact the quality of work that your company is able to put out and, by extension, the satisfaction of your clients. With that in mind, it’s important to identify which companies that can deliver pipe fabrication work that lives up to your high expectations.

This guide will cover the essential things you should consider before starting an engagement with any pipe fabrication company. Let’s get to work!

Is the company adequately experienced?

One of the first things that you’ll want to investigate is the experience of the company you plan on doing business with. In the extremely technical pipe fabrication industry, working with an experienced company is very important, so you shouldn’t shy away from ensuring your partners fabricate both quality and safe products.

You can ensure a company has experience by checking out their website and finding case studies or blogs that detail their projects throughout the years. You can learn a lot about a company’s history and capabilities before ever even calling the by reading these resources.

If you don’t see any case studies, blogs, or similar resources listed on the company’s website, that’s a pretty good sign they aren’t prioritizing the information they’re giving out to potential customers online. In turn, this means they probably aren’t prioritizing the info they’re providing in-person, either – and in this industry, transparency is essential.

What’s the company’s turnaround time?

The principle of transparency is also applicable to turnaround times, as even the most experienced fabricators might cut corners to meet extreme or unrealistically quick deadlines. On the other hand, a reliable company should take the time to guide you through their process from beginning to end, which will allow you to see what a realistic time frame will be for completion, even if it can’t match the initial expectations.

With this in mind, any step-by-step walkthrough of a company’s process and associated turnaround times should also cover important processes, including:

Materials used in production.
When components and/or materials will be ordered and delivered to the fabricator.
When your finished product can realistically be ready for delivery.

How do their costs compare to the competition?

Another thing to never be shy about when it comes to pipe fabrication work is pricing. Now, if you’ve never worked with the same pipe fabrication company before, you might not be aware of the fair and competitive pricing available from other companies. If so, get out there and investigate, ask for quotes, and be transparent with fabricators that you are shopping around. In the end, you might receive better pricing overall.

Pipe fabrication companies will be happy to discuss their pricing practices and quotes (if they’re not, that’s likely a red flag). Also, keep in mind that simply requesting a quote doesn’t automatically mean that you’ve actually started an engagement of any kind, and it’s not at all abnormal for customers to approach several companies to compare and contrast cost projections. In fact, we expect you to.

After talking to three or four different fabricators, you should have a pretty steady frame of reference for prices. Just remember to never settle on the cheapest estimate you receive simply because it’s the cheapest. While an estimate that’s substantially higher than your other options might signify that a company is trying to take advantage, it might also speak to their experience and ability to deliver a quality product.

Similarly, if one fabricator’s estimate is drastically lower than the others, this may actually speak to a comparative lack of experience. Of course, all of this ties back into you doing your due diligence and evaluating the extent of each fabricator’s experience.

Does the company really prioritize customer service?

Of all the questions we’ve asked you to consider, this one might be one of the hardest to verify. All companies speak to their commitment to top-quality customer service in one way or another, whether true or not. Therefore, to ensure that you receive top-quality pipe fabrication services that are delivered in an appropriate turnaround time and reasonably priced, engage with a pipe fabricator who has long prioritized customer service as one of their leading values.

For the past 30 years, Globe LLC’s core mission and vision has been based on growing the American industry through the fabrication of high-quality products that support the country’s most critical infrastructures. Of course, none of this is possible if our customers aren’t satisfied.

This is precisely why customer service has been tightly woven into our mission statement since we opened up shop in 1984. It’s also why every one of our 160+ team members are repeatedly and meticulously trained, ensuring their skills remain on par with the best craftsmen in the entire pipe fabrication industry.

Meanwhile, our close relationships with some of the best supplier networks throughout the country allow us to underbid our competitors and frequently deliver ahead of schedule to further ensure unparalleled customer satisfaction.

Want to Learn More About Working with Pipe Fabrication Companies?

If you’d like to speak directly with our staff about any of the above considerations, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today and we’ll reply promptly!

Low Residual Elements Definition & Process Control

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:04:16 GMT

WHAT IS LRE?: A LOW RESIDUAL ELEMENTS DEFINITION & OVERVIEW

September 11, 2019

LRE is an acronym that stands for “low residual elements,” which are any elements that have not been added to any material on purpose. Often, these undesirable elements are difficult to remove by standard metallurgical processes, making them even more troublesome.

When undesirable residual elements occur in steel (or any other materials, for that matter), they can have potentially negative effects on the material’s mechanical properties.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent the presence of these lingering, unwanted elements, as any steel-making process will inevitably result in some amount of LRE.

So, these remaining elements are clearly unavoidable and undesirable. But, exactly why are these residual elements so undesirable?

HYDROGEN STRESS CRACKING, BRITTLE FRACTURING & MORE: THE COMPLICATIONS OF UNCHECKED LRE

The simple answer to this question is that many residual elements have the potential to negatively influence processing conditions and outputs on various mechanical properties.

As a result, there’s a continuous need for fabricators to identify and quantify the extent of the effects of low residual elements in order to keep them under control and within acceptable limits.

Otherwise, any number of issues can be incurred, including:

Hydrogen Stress Cracking

Residual elements in the presence of caustic fluids plus moisture can cause hydrogen stress corrosion cracking, which can occur quickly, depending on the temperature and pressure of line application.

Hydrogen stress cracking is a form of hydrogen embrittlement (i.e., a decrease in a material’s ductility or durability) that occurs when corrosion occurs.

These sources of this corrosion might include everything from acid-induced damage to the accidental ingress of hydrogen – and much more.

Left unchecked, hydrogen stress corrosion cracking can also lead to even more complex issues, including brittle fracturing.

Brittle Fracturing

When enough corrosion impacts the materials, even the hardest steels or other materials can be penetrated. This penetration, in turn, causes brittle fracturing, which is the rapid cracking of any type of material or equipment under stress.

These cracks typically occur so abruptly and often without any warning signs, preliminary deformations, or subsequent time for prevention before it actually occurs.

Brittle fracturing can be quite a nuisance for manufacturers and fabricators across industries.

It’s important to go back to the root of the problem – low residual elements – and attempt to control them as much as possible before they lead to more serious and difficult to remedy material failures.

PROACTIVE STEPS FOR MONITORING & REDUCING LRE

As world-leading leading fabricators of custom piping materials, pressure vessels, and modular skids, our team at Globe LLC goes above and beyond to ensure proper stress corrosion cracking, brittle fracturing, and hydrogen embrittlement prevention practices are in place.

Some of the hydrogen stress cracking, brittle fracturing, and hydrogen embrittlement prevention practices that our project managers enforce on a day-to-day basis include:

Specialized LRE-watch jobs designed to eliminate error pulling material.
Separating material ordering and processing from regular CS to improve quality control.
Adding identification information of LRE materials at the time of cutting. Cut sheets are printed on orange paper, and the shop foreman is then responsible for communicating the need for LRE material control to others in the facility. In addition, the cutters will be able to confirm LRE through the orange identification papers.
All warehouse materials that come into contact with any fluid service are required to meet LRE requirements for valve body and bonnet, pipe, flanges, fittings, and so on.

The above is just a small sample of the many ways Globe LLC minimizes the presence of low residual elements, which leads to smoother operations and more reliable products for our customers and clients.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HYDROGEN STRESS CORROSION CRACKING & PREVENTION?

If you’d like to speak directly with a Globe representative about any of the above matters or to speak about a project or product you’d like to engage in or have fabricated, we’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to contact us today!