Metal for Marine & Offshore: Grade Selection Guide

Metal for Marine & Offshore: Grade Selection Guide

Short answer: For marine and offshore duty choose metals that resist chloride pitting and crevice attack: copper-nickel and 90/10 for seawater piping, duplex and 316L stainless for structural and splash-zone parts, aluminium 5083 for hulls, and titanium where life-cycle cost justifies it. Pair the choice with the right coating and isolation to control galvanic risk.

At a Glance

Metal for Marine & Offshore: Grade Selection Guide chart
Figure 1 – Metal for Marine & Offshore: Grade Selection Guide overview.

The Marine Corrosion Problem

Seawater is a warm, aerated, chloride-rich electrolyte, so the failure modes are pitting, crevice corrosion and galvanic corrosion. Selection starts from our Seawater Corrosion Guide and the galvanic series, and is confirmed by pitting и corrosion-under-insulation guidance.

Piping and Heat Exchangers

Copper-nickel 90/10 and 70/30 dominate seawater cooling and condenser tubing because they resist biofouling andFilm velocity limits — stocked by our Copper-Nickel Supplier и Copper Pipe Supplier. Titanium tube is the long-life upgrade for aggressive duty.

Structural and Splash Zone

Duplex 2205 and super-duplex 2507 give high strength with chloride resistance for offshore structures and desalination; see our Duplex Stainless Supplier и Stainless Steel Pipe Supplier. 316L serves topside fittings and shafts where full immersion is avoided.

Hulls, Superstructure and Hardware

Aluminium 5083 and 5086 are the marine plate workhorses for hulls and superstructure (our Aluminium Sheet Supplier); titanium Grade 2/5 is reserved for critical long-life parts. Finishes and protection follow our Metal Surface Treatment Guide и Coating Thickness Guide.

Get a Quote

Tell HXSCO your requirements and we will respond with a competitive quote and lead time.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What metal is best for seawater pipe?

Copper-nickel 90/10 or 70/30; titanium where life-cycle cost allows.

Is 316 stainless good in seawater?

Only topside or intermittent; it can pit under full immersion.

Which aluminium for hulls?

5083 and 5086 marine plate are the standard choices.

What resists the splash zone?

Duplex 2205 / 2507 stainless and coated carbon steel.

How do I avoid galvanic corrosion?

Isolate dissimilar metals and follow the galvanic-series guide.

Specify Marine-Grade Metal from HXSCO

HXSCO stocks copper-nickel, duplex, 316L, marine aluminium and titanium for seawater service. Send your duty and environment for a quote.

Request a Quote