5 Reasons your

Process Could

Benefit from Glass-

Lined Steel

Equipment

Glass-lined steel process equipment is used in

virtually all of the world’s pharmaceutical

manufacturing facilities and is also widely

employed by the chemical, petrochemical,

pesticide, metallurgical and food

industries. There are several advantages in the

unique characteristics of glass lining that make this

material of construction a top selection of design

engineers. Here are 5 key reasons why glass-lined

steel can benefit your process:

Glass-lined steel provides superior

corrosion resistance to acids, alkalis,

water and other chemical solutions (with

the exception for hydrofluoric acid and hot

concentrated phosphoric acid). As a result

of this chemical resistance, glass lining can

serve for many years in environments that

would quickly render most metal vessels

unserviceable. This chart illustrates how

glass lining has the widest range of

corrosion resistance of any material used

for equipment. This makes the use of

glass lining mandatory in some processes.

1. Corrosion Resistance

The chemical, mechanical, and thermal

properties of glass are proof that this material

can handle a diverse range of operating

conditions. Users of glass-lined equipment are

therefore able to make drastic changes to their

process with no added investment for new

equipment needed. This versatility makes glass-

lined steel the equipment of choice for

research and development projects, batches that

require frequent change out, and other

multifaceted applications.

2. Flexibility

Aggressive reaction environments tend to dissolve

metals from unlined mild steel or alloy

reactors. Extractable metals, such as chromium, nickel,

molybdenum, and copper, can leach into and

contaminate your product, producing undesired catalytic

effects that can cause harmful fluctuations in the

process reactions. These metals can compromise

product quality, negatively affect product yield, and in

some cases even cause runaway reactions. Glass-

lined steel is inert so it is impervious to

contamination. Additionally, it does not adversely

affect flavor or color, which is of extreme importance to

food and drug applications where purity is essential.

3. Purity

4. Ease of Cleaning

Especially in the case of pharmaceutical processes,

cleanability is critical. Between batches, each reactor

and its associated process equipment must be

thoroughly cleaned in order to assure product quality

and minimize heat transfer resistance caused by

product buildup. Glass-lined steel has been adapted

to cGMP requirements for cleaning, cleanliness,

and sterilization. Its high degree of surface

smoothness makes it easy to clean using non-

corrosive, low pressure cleaning systems. The

smooth surface of glass-lined steel also resists the

buildup of viscous or sticky products, which means

less frequent cleaning.

5. Economy

When properly handled and maintained, glass-

lined steel reactors can be a cost-efficient

solution compared to steel and alloy vessels,

whose service life can be drastically shortened

due to their inability to resist corrosion the way

glass lining can. The combination of glass and

steel provides you with the best of both materials

of construction; fusing glass to steel produces a

composite material with an inside that offers

product protection and an outside that provides

structural strength and durability.

We recommend consulting “Introductory Guide to Glass-Lined

Steel Equipment”. This complimentary eGuide provides a more

in-depth look at glass lining technology with insight on its history,

fabrication, and chemical, mechanical and thermal properties.

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