B-3Alloy is an additional member of the nickel-molybdenum family of alloys with excellent resistance to hydrochloric acid at all concentrations and temperatures. It also withstands sulfuric, acetic, formic and phosphoric acids, and other non-oxidizing media. B-3 alloy has a special chemistry designed to achieve a level of thermal stability greatly superior to that of it predecessors, e.g. B-2 alloy.

B-3 alloy has excellent resistance to pitting corrosion, to stress-corrosion cracking and to knife-line and heat-affected zone attack. The improved thermal stability of B-3 alloy minimizes the problems associated with fabrication of B-2 alloy components. This is due to the reduced tendency to precipitate deleterious intermetallic phases in B-3 alloy, thereby, affording it greater ductility than B-2 alloy during and following various thermal cycling conditions. B-3 alloy has good overall forming and welding characteristics. It may be forged or otherwise hot-worked, providing that it is held at 2250°F. (1230°C) for a time sufficient to bring the entire piece to temperature. Since it is a low carbon alloy, the use of lower hot finishing temperatures may be necessary to achieve grain size control. B-3 alloy may also be formed by cold working. Although it does work-harden somewhat rapidly, B-3 alloy components can be made using all common cold forming techniques. Limited tests in boiling 20 percent hydrochloric acid indicate that the uniform corrosion resistance of B-3 alloy is not affected by cold reductions up to 50 percent as compared to that of the alloy in the solution heat-treated condition.

Seamless Pipe & Tube : SB 622/B 622