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. Here are the advantages in using this unique material of construction.

1. 5 Reasons your
Process Could
Benefit from Glass-
Lined Steel
Equipment

2. 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:

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8.  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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 Call 908.317.2585 to speak with a DDPS representative
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