Choosing the right plate material for your heat exchanger is one of the most critical — and most overlooked — decisions in industrial procurement. The wrong material leads to accelerated corrosion, unplanned shutdowns, and costly replacements. In this guide we break down four key alloys — SS316, Titanium, SMO254, and Hastelloy C-276 — and explain exactly when each one is the right choice.

Heating Formula supplies heat exchanger plates and spare parts to Russia and the CIS from Turkey in original OEM and OEM-equivalent grades. All materials come with full quality certification and technical documentation.

SS316 stainless steel — the reliable all-rounder

SS316 (AISI 316) is the most widely used plate material in industrial heat exchangers. The addition of 2–3% molybdenum gives it significantly better corrosion resistance than SS304, particularly in chloride-containing environments and organic acid processes.

Typical applications for SS316:

Water treatment and district heating systems
Food processing and pharmaceutical production
Chemical processes with moderately aggressive media
HVAC and industrial cooling circuits

Limitation: SS316 is not recommended for high chloride concentrations or strong sulphuric acid environments. In those cases, consider SMO254 or Hastelloy C-276.

Titanium — the corrosion resistance benchmark

Titanium plates offer exceptional resistance to seawater, chloride solutions, and most oxidising acids. Despite the higher upfront cost, titanium pays for itself quickly in applications where other materials fail within months.

Typical applications for titanium:

Oil and gas — seawater cooling systems
Chlor-alkali production
Desalination plants
Shipbuilding and offshore installations

Important: Titanium is incompatible with anhydrous hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated oxidising agents. Consult our engineers before specifying titanium for your application.

SMO254 — the high-performance choice for chloride environments

SMO254 (UNS S31254) is a super-austenitic stainless steel with a high molybdenum content (6%) and nitrogen addition. It was specifically developed for aggressive chloride environments where SS316 is no longer adequate but titanium is cost-prohibitive.

Typical applications for SMO254:

Chemical industry — acid and solvent production
Pulp and paper manufacturing
Desalination and water treatment plants
FGD (flue gas desulphurisation) systems

Important: SMO254 is not recommended for environments with high concentrations of sulphuric acid at elevated temperatures — in those cases, Hastelloy C-276 is the appropriate choice.

Hastelloy C-276 — for the most aggressive process media

Hastelloy C-276 is a nickel-molybdenum-chromium alloy with outstanding resistance to a wide range of chemically aggressive environments, including both oxidising and reducing acids, halogens, and chlorination by-products. It is the material of last resort — when everything else is insufficient.

Typical applications for Hastelloy C-276:

Sulphuric, hydrochloric, and phosphoric acid production
Oil refining and petrochemical processing
Pesticide and dye manufacturing
Radioactive waste handling

Material comparison table

Material	Chloride resistance	Temperature range	Relative cost	Typical application
SS316	Moderate	Up to 300°C	★☆☆	HVAC, food, water
Titanium	High	Up to 315°C	★★★	Seawater, chlorine
SMO254	Very high	Up to 300°C	★★☆	Chemical industry
Hastelloy C-276	Exceptional	Up to 400°C	★★★	Acids, petrochemicals

Frequently asked questions

Can I replace original OEM plates with an equivalent in a different material?

Yes, provided the plate geometry and operating parameters are maintained. Our engineers will confirm compatibility and recommend the appropriate equivalent based on your technical specification.

What certificates are included with delivery?

We provide material certificates to EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, a quality dossier, and third-party inspection reports where required.

What are the lead times for delivery to Russia?

Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks depending on material and order volume. Expedited delivery is available for critical shutdowns — contact us to check stock availability.

Selecting the right material is not just a technical decision — it directly affects your maintenance budget and production continuity. Contact our engineers for a material recommendation tailored to your process conditions. We supply from Turkey to Russia with full documentation and competitive lead times.

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