Food processing

A large, international, food manufacturing company encountered through-wall leaks in a Type 304 stainless steel hot water line after only two years of service. Nicole Kinsman, formerly of Technical Marketing Resources, consultants to IMOA, is the author.

For centuries, molybdenum was confused with lead and graphite until scientists finally isolated the element in 1781. It came into commercial use during World War I as a steel hardening agent. In the century that followed, hundreds of uses and functions of molybdenum have been uncovered, from corrosion resistance in stainless steels to an essential role in human health.

Cable trays weave order into the chaos of cables and tubing, transforming sprawling installations into clean, efficient systems. From oil platforms to food production facilities and tunnel infrastructure, molybdenum-containing stainless steel trays deliver exceptional performance, with unmatched resistance to corrosion and high temperatures.

Friction is the resistance encountered when one surface or object moves against another. Often overlooked, friction is a significant cause of wasted energy. Reducing friction in large-scale processes such as power generation, manufacturing, and transportation could dramatically lower energy usage, costs, and emissions. Molybdenum-based lubricants and molybdenum-alloyed steels are poised to usher in this change.

Is molybdenum key to the perfect sear on scallops? Type 316 stainless steel cookware provides unparalleled functionality for professional and amateur chefs alike. Pots, pans and other cooking products made with this alloy are both corrosion and high- temperature resistant. Molybdenum helps cookware to perform at the highest level for decades, even in industrial kitchens.

Acid-resistant molybdenum-grade stainless steel vats and related equipment are essential in the production of many alcoholic beverages. They are used in alcoholic fermentation, vinification, aging, storage and transport. Hygienic and easy to clean, they help producers from high end to mass market, creating refined and well-crafted libations.

Chemical tankers are specialized ships carrying liquid cargoes that may be environmentally hazardous, flammable or highly reactive. They are designed and operated under special rules, and increasingly have built-in molybdenum-containing stainless steel tanks. Sailing around the world, they transport liquid goods safely over long distances. They represent a significant market for duplex stainless steels and molybdenum.

It is no exaggeration to say that the tank container has revolutionized freight transport. From its humble origins, the ISO tank container industry now numbers more than half a million units across the globe. Tank production is growing at nearly twice the rate of the world economy and they are almost always made of molybdenum-containing stainless steel. Such is their popularity that these containers now represent a significant end-use application for molybdenum.

Duplex stainless steel storage tanks are increasingly being used due to their long, low-maintenance service life. Surprisingly, they can also reduce initial costs for tank owners. The higher strength of duplex grades permits thinner walls requiring less steel. Because costly protective coatings or cathodic protection are not necessary, they can compete on installed cost with carbon steel tanks.

It can be difficult and time consuming for engineers to find materials properties beyond the basic ones reported in producer data sheets. This is especially true for lesser-used high-performance alloys. The new High-Performance Alloys Database addresses this problem. It contains a large number of materials properties for each of the 100 or so featured alloys, many involving molybdenum.

Every day large amounts of food waste accumulate in restaurants, food courts, hotels, supermarkets, hospitals, stadiums and convention centers. Typically this volume goes into the waste bins and has to be hauled away for off-site disposal. Ultra-modern biodigesters, machines with a “stomach” of molybdenumcontaining stainless steel, are revolutionizing the way such waste is handled in institutional settings.

A recent study found that about one quarter of the molybdenum used each year is recycled material from scrap sources. The rest is newly mined, primary molybdenum. Scrap therefore plays an important role in meeting demand and contributing to sustainability.

Stainless steel wire and rod are used to manufacture a wide variety of woven steel mesh products. They are used in many applications ranging from the eye-catching and spectacular to the unobtrusive and utilitarian. Molybdenum contributes to their growing popularity and success by improving corrosion resistance.