Chemical Stainless Steel Reaction Vessel

They are usually made from high-grade austenitic stainless steel such as SS 304/304L or, more commonly for corrosive or high-purity applications, SS 316/316L. Higher alloys (duplex stainless steels, Hastelloy, Alloy 20, etc.) are used for aggressive media. Low-carbon “L” grades improve weldability and reduce sensitization risk.

SS 316/316L provides superior resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion (especially from chlorides) due to the addition of 2–3% molybdenum, along with excellent resistance to a wide range of acids, alkalis, organic solvents, and process chemicals.

A wide range of agitators can be fitted, including anchor, paddle, pitched-blade turbine, propeller, hydrofoil, helical ribbon, or high-shear homogenizers, selected according to process needs.

They commonly operate from –20 °C to +250/300 °C or higher (depending on design and heating medium) and safely under pressure up to several bar, with high-pressure designs reaching 10–25+ bar or more, as well as vacuum conditions.

Jacketed designs (full or half-pipe/limpet coil) enable efficient heat transfer using steam, hot oil, water, chilled brine, or thermic fluid. Internal coils can be added for faster heating/cooling or high-viscosity duties, supporting both exothermic and endothermic reactions with precise control.

They are widely applied in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, herbal, Ayurvedic, biotech, cosmetic, chemical, petrochemical, food processing, and specialty chemicals industries.

Stainless steel vessels offer better heat-transfer rates, higher pressure ratings, greater impact resistance, long service life with relatively low maintenance, and easier cleaning/sterilization, while remaining suitable for GMP or non-GMP configurations.

Vessels feature a cylindrical vertical shell with torispherical or elliptical dish ends, capacities ranging from laboratory/pilot scale (a few litres) to large industrial sizes (tens of thousands of litres), multiple nozzles, and fabrication to international codes (ASME, PED, DIN, IS, cGMP, etc.) with radiography, pressure testing, and surface-finish control. Optional insulation with outer SS cladding is available.

Yes. Smooth, polished (often mirror or electro-polished) internal surfaces minimize product adhesion, facilitate CIP/SIP cleaning, reduce contamination risk, and make them ideal for pharmaceutical, fine chemical, food, and biotech applications where product purity is critical. They are also compatible with automation (PLC/HMI for temperature, pressure, speed, and data logging).