The nature and history of the petrochemical industry are reviewed briefly, together with the type of plant used and its layout. Individual items of equipment and their characteristic modes of failure in service are described. The use of different groups of materials, including carbon steel, medium- and high-tensile steel, corrosion- and heat-resistant steel, low-temperature material, and non-ferrous metals is considered and the problems that arise in fabrication and in service with such materials, particularly those problems that may generate hazardous conditions, are described. In the final section, the use of metallic and non-metallic liners in process equipment is discussed.
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