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Nitric acid

Nitric acid is the second largest commodity mineral acid, following behind sulfuric acid. It is a strong oxidizing acid and is used in CPI processes, the production of fertilizers and explosives, and is one of the principle ingredients for pickling stainless and chromium bearing nickel alloys.

Type 304/L stainless is widely used in the handling and storage of nitric acid up to 60% concentration and up to the atmospheric boiling point (Figure 1 above). It has been commonly used for cooler condensers operating as hot as 200°C (390°F). The stabilized 18-8 grades, 321, and 347 are also used. Nitric acid will intergranularly attack areas that suffer from carbide precipitation so that “L” grades or stabilized grades should be used where welding is involved.

Increasing chromium content is generally beneficial in improving resistance to nitric and other oxidizing acids. A low carbon grade of 310 has been developed and marketed (S31002 or 310 NAG) specifically for nitric acid service. This grade can be useful at concentrations above 70%. In addition to attacking chromium depleted regions due to carbide precipitation, nitric acid can also attack sigma phase or other transitional phases in molybdenum bearing alloys. As a result, molybdenum bearing grades, such as 316/L, are not particularly useful in nitric acid service. Duplex alloy 2205 appears to offer no advantage over 304L in pure acid. Duplex and superduplex alloys may offer some advantage in acid containing metal ions, such as pickling solutions.

Titanium alloys Grade 2 and Grade 7 can be considered at concentrations below 10% and in the 65% -90% concentration range. Zirconium is more resistant than titanium and can be used up to 65% acid at temperatures up to 230°C (450°F). It is subject to stress corrosions cracking at concentrations over 70%. Tantalum is resistant at all concentrations up to atmospheric boiling. Fuming nitric acids, with concentrations over 90%, react differently from the lower concentrations. Aluminum alloys A91100 and A95052 (and several others) are suitable at concentrations over 80% at room temperature and up to 43°C (110°F) in concentrations over 93%. Austenitic stainless steels with 4-5% silicon (18% Cr-18% Ni) are also employed at concentrations over 90%. Tantalum has been used at temperatures up to 315°C (600°F).

The process to produce nitric acid begins by passing anhydrous ammonia over a Pt-Rh catalyst at 925°C (1700°F). Alloys used for the catalyst grid have included RA333®, RA 602 CA® and Alloy 230®.

AlloyNotesConcentration, %TemperatureTimeCorrosion RateRef
C F mm/yr mils/yr
17-4PH condition H 1075 25 boiling 5x48hr 0.18 7 13
17-4PH condition H 1075 50 boiling 5x48hr 1.2 47 13
17-4PH condition H 1075 65 boiling 5x48hr 2.72 107 13
17-4PH H 1075 + 1% HF 10 35 95 5x48hr 38 1500 13
2250 65 boiling 240hr 0.20 7.9 8
2205 65.3 boiling 0.13 5.3 9
304 65 116 241 0.23 9 1
304L plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4fr 157 6410 1
316 plus 3% HF 5 68 155 4.18 165 1
316 10 90 194 0.22 9 1
316 plus 2% HCI 60 50 122 0.28 11 1
316 A 262 C 65 boiling 24hr 0.872 34 1
316L 65.3 boiling 0.25 9.8 9
316L plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 64.6 2450 1
317L 65.3 boiling 0.21 8.3 9
310S plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 9.36 369 1
AL-6XN plus 3% HF 5 68 155 1.55 61 1
AL-6XN plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 2.56 101 1
AL-6XN A 262 C 65 boiling 24hr 0.738 29 1
800 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 18.6 732 1
20Cb-3 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 7.65 301 1
825 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 3.02 119 1
825 plus 1% HF 53 80 176 336hr 5.1 200 12
RA333 mill annealed 65 boiling 5x48hr 1.07 42 3
RA333 anneal + 1250 1hr 65 boiling 5x48hr 3.96 156 3
RA333 anneal + 1700F 1hr 65 boiling 5x48hr 0.292 11.5 3
RA333 anneal + 1700F 1hr +1250 1hr 65 boiling 5x48hr 0.292 11.5 3
G-30 plus 1% HF 20 80 176 0.85 34 6
G-30 plus 6% HF 20 80 176 3.6 140 6
G-30 plus 1% HF 50 80 176 4.9 192 6
G-30 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 1.04 41 1
G-30 plus 3% HF 5 68 155 0.741 29 1
G-30 10 boiling 0.02 0.7 6
G-30 60 boiling 0.13 5.3 6
C-276 10 90 194 <0.01 0.2 2
C-276 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 6.71 264 1
C-276 65 116 241 0.74 29 2
C-276 plus 2% HCI 60 50 122 0.21 8.2 2
C-22 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 1.71 67 1
625 plus 3% HF 10 70 158 4hr 3.96 156 1
625 65 boiling 0.76 30 16