Metallurgical Consultants

Pulp and Paper Industry Corrosion

Corrosion issues in the paper industry are normally most significant in the wet process equipment.  Various manufacturing steps have there specific corrosion problems.  Temperature, chemical constituents, concentration, size and quality of the wood fibers, and metals used in components are some of the factors affecting corrosion in equipment.  Paper recycling and environmental concerns regarding chemical releases have required the pulp and paper industry to change their processes.

There is an understandable development of decreasing the total quantity of process water used, by recycling and reusing the water in closed-loop systems. Closure has resulted in increasing concentration of dissolved organic and inorganic solids, a decrease in pH and an increase in operating temperatures.  This results in a more significant corrosion environment for the equipment. 

Paper mills have been historically constructed of a mixture of carbon steel and stainless steels components.  There has been a trend to use more stainless steel in paper equipment.  Stainless steels have there own corrosion concerns.  Proper selection of stainless steels and associated welding processes for these new environments are significant issues to the pulp and paper industry. 

Some of the corrosion concerns in the pulp and paper industry are listed below:

•   Pitting

•   Crevice corrosion

•   Stress corrosion cracking

•   Microbiological attack

•   Corrosion of welds

•   Corrosion fatigue

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Last modified: January 25, 2012