Materials Selection for Screens Based on Mining Water Environments

The selection of materials for water mining screen applications is dependent on the service application including water chemistry and operating conditions.  The relationship between the corrosion rates of common materials of construction and common water chemistries are presented.  The significant water constituents discussed are chlorides, oxygen and pH levels.  The effect of operating conditions such as flow rates and temperature are explained. 

Gravimetric and electrochemical corrosion data is presented that illustrates practical limits of some common alloys.  For screen applications, the presence of salt or oxygen or flow generally renders steels unacceptable as choices for screen products.  Each of these variables was found to be additive in that corrosion rates for steels increased with the addition of each.  An example of an application for mine water is presented.