This article provides a detailed discussion on the corrosion of steel and stainless steel under insulation. Stress corrosion cracking mechanism, types of alloys susceptible to corrosion, factors influencing corrosion, and corrosion prevention methods, are also discussed.

This article illustrates the use of the fitness-for-service (FFS) code to assess the serviceability and remaining life of a corroded flare knockout drum from an oil refinery, two fractionator columns affected by corrosion under insulation in an organic sulfur environment, and an equalization tank with localized corrosion in the shell courses in a chemicals facility. In the first two cases, remaining life is assessed by determining the minimum thickness required to operate the corroded equipment. The first is based on a Level 2 FFS assessment, while the second involves a Level 3 assessment. The last case involves several FFS assessments to evaluate localized corrosion in which remaining life was assessed by determining the minimum required thickness using the concept of remaining strength factor for groove-like damage and evaluating crack-like flaws using the failure assessment diagram. Need for caution in predicting remaining life due to corrosion is also covered.

This article discusses the materials of construction found in pharmaceutical production facilities. The materials discussed are different stainless steels, nickel and nickel-base alloys, titanium, zirconium, impervious graphite, fluoropolymers, and glass-lined steel. The article describes the three primary causes of failure in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals: embedded iron, failures of glass linings, and corrosion under thermal insulation.