What will be the future of the glass-lined equipment manufacturing industry, and what is the service life of such equipment?

Thread Content

In recent years, due to factors such as overcapacity, **supply-side reforms, stricter regulations on safety, environmental protection, and energy conservation, as well as the impact of the broader economic environment, the chemical industry and related sectors have faced a downturn, with significant reductions in production or even closures of factories. Coupled with banks pulling back on loans, various adverse factors have led to a general decline in investment in fixed assets within the chemical manufacturing sector, further deteriorating the operating conditions for the chemical equipment manufacturing industry, which relies on the chemical manufacturing sector for its survival. What is the situation with glass-lined equipment, which is indispensable in the fine chemical industry? Enameled equipment is made by applying a ceramic glaze with a high silicon content to the surface of metal, and then firing it at 950°C to ensure that the glaze adheres tightly to the surface of the metal core. Therefore, it has the dual advantages of glass-like chemical stability and metal strength. Glass-lined equipment is widely used in industrial production and scientific research across sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides, organic synthesis, petroleum, food manufacturing, and the defense industry for processes including reaction, evaporation, concentration, synthesis, extraction, polymerization, saponification, mineralization, chlorination, and nitration, serving as a substitute for expensive stainless steel and non-ferrous metals. Corrosion resistance: It exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion in various concentrations of inorganic acids, organic acids, organic solvents, and weak bases. However, it is not suitable for strong bases, hydrofluoric acid, and fluoride-containing media, as well as phosphoric acid at temperatures above 180°C and concentrations above 30%. 　　Enameled equipment is an inorganic glass glaze applied and fired on the surface of metal steel billets. Well then, let’s start by mentioning the first advantage: as we all know, metals are prone to corrosion caused by strong acids and bases, which leads to rusting. However, by applying an enamel coating on the metal surface, we can prevent rusting. The enamel layer on the metal surface prevents the formation of an oxide layer when the metal is heated, and moreover, enamel has anti-corrosive properties that enable it to resist the erosion of various liquids, thus protecting the metal surface. The second advantage is that glass-lined materials are not only safe and non-toxic but also easy to clean; they can therefore be widely used as cooking utensils and cleaning tools in daily life. When glass lining is applied to the surface of metal, it possesses excellent properties such as high hardness, heat resistance, wear resistance, and insulation under specific conditions. These characteristics, resulting from the application of ceramic glaze to the metal substrate, make glass-lined equipment more suitable for use in industries such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, thus expanding its range of applications. The last advantage: As we all know, the glass-lined layer is smooth, which gives our glass-lined equipment a beautiful appearance. 　　According to the report on the current situation, research analysis, and development trends of China’s enamel-coated equipment market from 2016 to 2022, published by China Market Research Network, new functional enamel materials are composite materials formed by using high-quality low-carbon steel plates as a base material and combining them with inorganic non-metallic materials through spraying and high-temperature firing, thereby creating strong chemical bonds between the two. It possesses the toughness and impact resistance of the base steel plate, as well as the superior acid- and alkali-resistance, durability, wear resistance, non-flammability, easy cleanability, aesthetics, and radiation-free properties of the inorganic enamel layer. 　　In addition to the inherent properties of modern functional enamel materials, enamel panels used in green building curtain walls also have the advantage of low self-weight compared to wall materials and the main materials used in conventional building curtain walls. Compared with other major curtain wall materials, enamel panels in green building curtain walls offer a significant reduction in the building’s self-weight; they enable a substantial decrease in the amount of material required for the main structure, reduce the load on the foundations, and help save on construction costs. As a high-end exterior wall decoration material, enamel panels for green building curtain walls offer advantages in terms of aesthetic appeal and basic physical properties that traditional materials cannot match; globally, they are widely used in the decoration of commercial buildings, institutional facilities, residential homes, and other structures. 　　The enamel material used for interior facade decoration is a new type of functional enamel product that has seen the fastest development in recent years. It boasts advantages such as corrosion resistance and durability, non-flammability and non-toxicity, no radiation, a porcelain-like texture, vibrant colors, easy cleaning, scratch resistance that requires no maintenance for 30 years, and a modular structure that facilitates easy installation and removal. It has gained public recognition and has become one of the most widely used materials for decorating subway interiors. 　　The inner layer of the enamel reaction kettle can be filled with the reaction solvent to facilitate stirring and reaction, while the jacket can be connected to various heat or cold sources to enable cyclic heating or cooling of the reaction. Under constant temperature conditions, in a sealed enamel reaction vessel, stirring reactions can be carried out at atmospheric or reduced pressure depending on the requirements, and reflux and distillation of the reaction solution are possible. It is an ideal pilot and production equipment for modern fine chemical manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, and the synthesis of new materials. Not only is the domestic development on a positive track, but there is also huge market potential abroad. For example, developing countries’ pharmaceutical manufacturing projects have shown persistent effort; in regions such as Russia, Southeast Asia, and Asia, projects similar to GMP standards have just been initiated, and there is a great demand for upgrading pharmaceutical machinery. As a result, there are broad sales prospects abroad, which creates excellent opportunities for the double-layer glass reactor industry. Dear sea friends, let’s discuss it: does your company use glass-lined equipment? What is the lifespan?