Can we substitute 316L with 304L for a urea storage tank?

Question

A customer wants to cut cost by using 304L instead of 316L for a urea solution tank at ambient temperature. Is that acceptable from a corrosion standpoint?

Answer

Urea solutions can generate ammonia/cyanate chemistry and 304L is not the safe choice for long-term storage. Stay with 316L (or a duplex grade) and check the specific concentration with the process engineer rather than substituting on price.

Can we substitute 316L with 304L for a urea storage tank?

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