Other processing

A rendering plant has been using a Type 304L stainless steel (SS) heat exchanger to condense the rendering cooker gases and heat plant water. This case study has been provided by Dave Bennett of M&M Engineering and has been written up by IMOA consultant John Grocki of Advantage Resources Consulting.

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.

As the world strives for climate neutrality, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is an essential bridge to a sustainable future. By capturing CO₂ from industrial processes for storage or reuse, CCUS can prevent harmful emissions from reaching the atmosphere. The reliability and durability of this technology depend on molybdenum-containing materials.

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.

In the age of accelerating digitalization, the paper products industry is often considered a dying business. But is that actually true? In fact, the use of paper goods is growing year on year. Long an important end-use market for molybdenum-containing alloys, applications for stainless steels in pulp and paper processing are also increasing.

The quantifiable benefits of stainless steel are often future-oriented, namely reducing maintenance throughout service life and reducing life cycle costs. But stainless steel, especially the strong duplex grades, sometimes emerges as the most affordable option from the initial investment! The following case study discusses how a 2507 super duplex stainless steel exhaust stack replacement option was less expensive than a weathering steel alternative.

 

When studying viruses, making computer chips, or bottling medicines, particles 100 times smaller than a grain of sand can spell disaster. Ultra-sensitive procedures like these take place in cleanrooms, the most meticulously controlled spaces on earth. Type 316 stainless steel is widely used in this sector.

Improving the safety and efficiency of technologies and minimizing their environmental impact often depends directly on the development of better materials. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technology has been at the forefront of this area for decades. Recent advances improve the productivity of making HIPed parts and reduce their cost. Molybdenum metal components are crucial to HIP furnace performance.

Modern electronic gadgets contain dozens of metals crammed into the smallest possible space. The construction is such that they are nearly impossible to disassemble for recycling. Highly reactive supercritical water can facilitate “mining” of precious-metals from this electronic waste. Because of the corrosive process environment, molybdenum containing nickel alloys are needed for the vats.

Molybdenum-alloyed mold steels are a key component of plastic injection-molding machines. They must be easy to machine into complex geometries that mirror the finished molding, resist deformation and wear under the stress and abrasion of the process, and be able to maintain a high surface polish for long production runs. Molybdenum is a vital alloying element in meeting these requirements.

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.

LEDs are revolutionizing lighting technology. They are more sustainable than traditional lighting sources because they use much less energy and last much longer. At the same time, lighting can be used in completely new ways. Molybdenum plays a key role in making the sapphire substrate of LED devices and is also important as a heat sink in these lights.

Many of the best tool steels require molybdenum to increase hardenability and toughness, and to form hard, wear-resistant carbides in the matrix. These attributes make molybdenum-containing tool steels the industry standard.

Many of the best tool steels require molybdenum to increase hardenability and toughness, and to form hard, wear-resistant carbides in the matrix. These attributes make molybdenum-containing tool steels the industry standard.

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.

We prize glass because of its clarity and beauty, and also for its immense versatility. Molybdenum components help to make the glass and glass products used every day. Moly’s high strength at the high glass melting temperature and its resistance to corrosion by molten glass make it the ideal material for this purpose.

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.