In non-ferrous metal processing, acids, alkalis, and aggressive media are frequently generated, drastically reducing the service life of equipment and pipeline systems. This leads to the scrapping of both primary and auxiliary equipment, forcing production line shutdowns. Titanium’s corrosion resistance surpasses high-alloy stainless steels in coking plant environments, which involve acidic, alkaline, and corrosive media. For example, BT1-grade titanium alloy exhibits 10x higher corrosion resistance than stainless steel in mother liquor, ensuring uniform surface corrosion, whereas stainless steel suffers severe pitting.

At the Zaporizhzhya Coking Plant, titanium alloy suction filters (false-bottom filters), crystallizers, pumps, pipelines, and other equipment demonstrate that titanium alloys are economically viable replacements for steel, despite their limited usage. In some enterprises, equipment made of carbon steel (pumps, pipelines) exposed to high-chloride lime (calcium carbonate) and calcium hypochlorite lasts no more than 1–1.5 years.

In non-ferrous metal processing plants, pickling tanks and ventilation systems are typically made of Cr18Ni9Ti-grade stainless steel or carbon steel (CT3) coated with acid-resistant rubber linings. Ventilation units with 1.5mm carbon steel plates and rubber linings fail within 6–8 months. Titanium alloy equivalents increase service life by 8–10 times. Titanium anode baskets in silver-plating workshops generated 25 million rubles in savings in 1970. Planned installations include 2.5 tons of titanium alloy equipment (pickling tanks, ventilator components). The plant now uses titanium clamps for handling pickled rolled and extruded products, significantly reducing labor intensity.

Key Applications in Acid Solutions

Primary Acid Solution: 5–15% mass fraction sulfuric acid at 60–80°C.

BT1-0 Titanium Alloy Stability: Corrosion resistance rated 6–8 grades in such solutions.

Copper Ion Inhibition: Copper ions in the solution reduce titanium corrosion rates by over tenfold.

Optimization Measures

Add 1.0–1.5 g/L HNO₃ or NaNO₃ to fresh pickling solutions to minimize titanium corrosion.

Titanium Equipment in Processing

Purification and Regeneration Systems: Acid washing, electrolyte preheating tanks, centrifuges.

Electrolysis Components: Electrolytic cells, reflux sprayers in scrubbers.

Auxiliary Systems: Titanium pumps, pipelines, T-joints, throttle valves, reducers, circulation tanks.

Economic Benefits

Extended equipment lifespan.

Reduced operational and maintenance costs.