Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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DI water corrosion in steam sterilizer

2006

Hi. I'm a Senior Engineering Technician at UF with a corrosion problem in a relatively new (~2 y.o.)steam sterilizer used in our biochemical labs. The boiler and chamber are apparently SS (316?), copper heating elements, brass end-plate, and some black-pipe plumbing.

The scientist running the research group requested that DI be used. But, this is the second heater failure since the sterilizer was installed. The boiler and heaters were covered in a reddish-orange gunge and the black pipe had external corrosion (white salts) at the junctions with the SS boiler.

The question is this: should we continue using DI, monitoring the pH and conductivity, or switch to RO or some other highly-filtered water source?

Thanks

Lawrence H.
University of Florida - Gainesville, Florida, USA

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None of the above answers will stop the designed-in corrosion. Is this a once-through system using live steam, or a closed-loop system with condensate return? If closed-loop, add treatment chemicals to protect the various metals ˜ see GE Water and Process Technologies. With a live steam system, make everything 316L stainless and use DI water.

The U. of F. has a very good Materials Science and Engineering Department. Find someone interested in corrosion problems.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006