Hastelloy vs Tantalum Bolts for Sulfuric Acid Corrosion in Lithium Extraction

Q:  I’m running a lithium extraction process where a mineral called spodumene is roasted in a mixture of sulphuric acid (95-97%) at at about 150°C to form lithium sulfate. I’ve to use Hastelloy C276 for some process equipment but I’m still experiencing corrosion. Please help.

A:  Hastelloy C276 bolts typically work well in sulfuric acid but not at this temperature and concentration. Normally the max operating temperature for Hastelloy C276 at with H2SO4 at 97% concentration would be around 70C. For these conditions of sulfuric acid, I would suggest to go with tantalum metal fasteners. Tantalum is the most corrosion resistant option available to industry. It is very capable of handling sulfuric acid at any concentration 150C.

This entry was posted in Application, Corrosion Resistance, FAQs, High Temperature Resistance, Material, Specialty Metal Fasteners, Technical Questions and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Questions?

Our material experts are ready to help guide you through your specific application.

Contact an Expert