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Did You Know?

. . . that nickel-containing stainless steels are used to produce clean water? It's a Natural Nickel Fact


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Nickel Magazine, June, 2003 -- Since they resist corrosion, and have good strength, ductility and toughness, nickel stainless steels are used in a wide range of water treatment equipment that are designed to have a long operating life.
 
Stainless steels are used every day in desalination plants and other drinking/potable water treatment plants as well as facilities where wastewaters are treated before they are released into the natural environment.

Nickel stainless steels are used in such equipment as tanks and vessels, screens, sludge scrapers, weirs and gates, filter presses, pipes, valves, pumps, thickeners, liners, ladders, railings, platforms and even fasteners.

Their long service life, clean smooth surface, good wear and fatigue resistance, help to reduce maintenance and operating costs associated with water treatment.

Not only are nickel stainless steels used throughout the world to produce clean water, they are also being used to transport potable water through pipes to where it is needed.

Stainless steel will give in excess of 100 years of service life and has helped to reduce leakage from distribution systems.

Expert Dialogue:

Dr. David Jenkinson
Director, Australasia
Nickel Development Insitute
Carlton South, Victoria
Australia

Listen to Part I of the interview (5:54)
RealAudio (727 kB)

"The primary advantage that stainless steel brings [to the water industry] is corrosion resistance. . . Because of low corrosion rates stainless steel does not contaminate drinking water . . . All materials release ions . . . the important thing about stainless steel is that the release rate is extremely low. The release rate of nickel ions . . . is well within the limits set by the health authorities around the world."


Listen to Part II of the interview (5:22)
RealAudio (660 kB)

"Stainless steel is cheaper than other alternatives . . . piping systems can actually be cheaper than . . . nodular cast iron or welded carbon steel. It generally relies on the fact that stainless steel can be readily welded and can also, because of it's formability, be used for pulling 'T's . . . a very economic way to form complex piping systems . . . For simpler systems, stainless steel is somewhat more expensive as far as initial cost is concerned . . . when we look at the cost of s.s. over it's entire life, however, this is where it is frequently, very commonly cheaper than other alternatives because of the low need for inspection . . . maintenance . . . refurbishment . . . and replacement."


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More Info:

What are the economic and environmental benefits of using stainless steels in the water industry? >> 

How are stainless steels used in the drinking water industry? >> 

See an example of a water treatment plant in Italy that uses stainless steel. >> 

See an example of a stainless steel drum filter >> 

See an example of a stainless steel sludge removal system >> 

How is stainless steel pipe used to distribute water ? >> 

How are stainless steels used in municipal wastewater treatment facilities? >> 

See an example of a wastewater treatment plant in New York City. >> 

How are stainless steels used in desalination plants? >> 

How are stainless steels recycled? >> 


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