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Can plate heat exchangers be made of carbon steel?

2026-05-30View Original

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It can be made of carbon steel, but it is only used in specific structural and operational scenarios and is not suitable for all core heat exchange components. Applicable scenarios: non-heat exchange, pressure-bearing structures such as housings/base plates. Carbon steel is a common material for the external structures of plate heat exchangers, such as housings and base plates; the most commonly used grades are Q235-B or Q355-B. It is suitable for applications with a design pressure of ≤1.6 MPa and a temperature of ≤200°C in non-corrosive environments, such as heat exchanger housings in urban heating systems and ordinary industrial cooling systems. Base plates are also often made of carbon steel, as it offers a good balance between strength and cost-effectiveness. Not applicable to core heat exchange plates. Carbon steel is hardly used in core heat exchange plates; the most common materials for such plates are stainless steel (304/316L). For applications with high corrosion levels, special materials such as titanium and titanium-palladium alloys, as well as Hastelloy, are employed. Carbon steel is only used in non-core structures where its properties meet the required specifications. Limitations of carbon steel: Carbon steel has poor corrosion resistance. If it comes into contact with environments containing moisture, salts, or mildly corrosive substances, anti-corrosion treatment must be applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the casing; otherwise, rusting will occur, affecting the equipment’s service life.

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