Technical Awareness Bulletins

Technical Awareness Bulletins deliver quick answers that save MTI member companies time and money. As a service to both MTI members and the industry, MTI continues to create informative technical bulletins on the industry’s hottest topics, from materials selection and welding to corrosion under insulation and failure analysis, and much more. 

We invite you to explore some of our valuable Bulletins below. Click the titles to read more and access bulletins.

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Focus on Stress Corrosion Cracking
Bulletin #1
The subject of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is extensive. The focus of this issue is to discuss, in simple terms, some of the pertinent information.


Pickling and Passivation in Stainless Steel
Bulletin #4
Pickling and passivation are chemical treatments applied to remove contaminants and assist in the formation of a continuous passive film.


Corrosion Under Insulation
Bulletin #7
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is the corrosion or corrosion-related cracking that occurs under insulation and/or fireproofing. It is a major problem in all parts of the chemical processing industry.


Coated Heat Exchanger Tubes
Bulletin #9
Coated tube bundles could potentially provide considerable savings on maintenance and production.

Water Treatment - Closed Cooling Systems
Bulletin #10
A closed cooling water system is one in which there is no make-up after the initial charge and no blowdown. These systems are used primarily when precise control of temperature or water purity is necessary.


Alloying Elements in Stainless Steel
Bulletin #11
Stainless steel is iron alloyed to chromium with certain elements to give the finished metal required properties. Cost is minimized by controlling the percentages of alloying elements yet maintaining required properties.

Metal Specifications
Bulletin #14
In today’s chemical companies, emphasis on process safety management is crucial. It is necessary to avoid getting less than the desired material on a requirement. When there are 20 or more alloys associated with one trade name, getting material fully specified can prevent failures.

Storage and Handling of Molten Sulfur
Bulletin #22
Many chemical process plants produce elemental sulfur from the collection of waste gases containing sulfur. The sulfur is generally stored in its molten state so that it can be more readily shipped to buyers. This can come with its own corrosion problems, as explained in the bulletin.

Positive Materials Identification
Bulletin #23
PMI (Positive Materials Identification) is the identification or analysis of metal alloys through nondestructive methods. PMI programs are usually based on assessment of the consequences of failure from material mix-ups.  


Heat Transfer Fluids
Bulletin #25
The heat transfer fluids discussed in this bulletin are organic compounds, typically aromatics, alkylated aromatics, and some high molecular weight glycols. The differences among these compounds account for the differences in their range of applicability and the potential problems that can take place when using these fluids.

Sensitization
Bulletin #26
Sensitization refers to a zone of chromium depletion at grain boundaries associated with carbide precipitation in certain corrosion resistant alloys, causing the alloy to be susceptible to intergranular corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. Sensitization is a concern in the refining and chemical industries, and it also comes up in the nuclear industry.

Polythionic Acid Stress Corrosion Cracking
Bulletin #27
Polythionic acids are a concern for refineries and petrochemical plants due to the extremely rapid intergranular stress corrosion cracking that can occur in equipment during shutdowns, startups or during operation when air and moisture are present.


PTFE Expansion Joint
Bulletin #36
For most of the components in use in chemical plants, such as vessels, columns, piping, valves, seals, hoses, and expansion joints, industry Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEPs) concerning life cycle and integrity issues exist. Expansion joints, also called compensators or bellows, normally compress rather than expand and provide the necessary stress relief from thermal and mechanical forces, such as movements and vibrations during normal operations.

Venting of PTFE Lined Pipe and Equipment
Bulletin #37
Studies have shown that PTFE vent coupling inserts help in channeling corrosive permeants away from the steel housing. They also help to avoid vent holes from plugging by corrosion products and by painting.