ASTM A182 F316L Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tubesheet

ASTM A182 specifies requirements for forged or rolled alloy steel and stainless steel flanges, forged pipe fittings, valves, and valve components for high-temperature and high-pressure service. Material grades covered by this standard, such as F316L, are widely used in the manufacture of forgings for pressure-containing equipment, including tubesheets. Tubesheets, a critical pressure-containing component in heat exchangers and pressure vessels, are typically machined from thick plate or forged stock. When forgings are used to manufacture tubesheets, ASTM A182 is one of the most commonly used material standards.

ASTM A182 F316L Tubesheet Fabrication and Heat Treatment Requirements:

• Fabrication Process: Tubesheets are typically manufactured from forged steel billets through a process of forging, rough machining, heat treatment, and finish machining. The forging process must ensure forgeability and minimize internal defects.
• Heat Treatment: All F316L forgings must undergo solution heat treatment after final forging and forming. The steel is first heated to between 1040°C and 1150°C (1900°F and 2100°F), held for a sufficient time to completely dissolve carbides, and then rapidly cooled. Solution annealing dissolves chromium carbides and other precipitated phases, restoring optimal corrosion resistance, relieving processing stresses, and softening the material for subsequent processing.
• Pickling and Passivation: After solution treatment, pickling is typically required to remove the oxide scale produced by the heat treatment. A passivation treatment with nitric acid solution forms an inert, chromium-rich oxide film on the surface, further enhancing corrosion resistance.

Key Performance Characteristics of ASTM A182 F316L Stainless Steel Tube Sheet

• Excellent corrosion resistance: Pitting and crevice corrosion resistance, intergranular corrosion resistance, and good general corrosion resistance
• Good high-temperature performance
• Excellent toughness and ductility
• Good machinability
• Excellent weldability

Material Grades of Tubesheet

Main Applications of ASTM A182 F316L Tubesheets

• Chemical and petrochemical industries: Various heat exchangers, condensers, and reactors used to handle corrosive media such as acids, alkalis, and salts.
• Marine engineering: Seawater desalination plants, ship heat exchangers, and offshore platform cooling systems.
• Pharmaceutical and food industries: Process equipment requiring extremely high material purity and corrosion resistance.
• Nuclear power industry: Auxiliary cooling systems and heat exchange equipment for non-nuclear components.
• Pulp and paper industry: Handling corrosive chemical solutions.