Industry procurement solution · Reviewed 10 August 2026
Metals for Pressure Vessels
Pressure-vessel procurement ties the construction code, design conditions, allowable stress, material specification, thickness, toughness, corrosion, forming, welding, heat treatment, NDE and certification into one controlled package.
Answer first
There is no single metal specification for an entire project
Divide the project into systems, document each service environment and governing code, then select compatible materials, product standards, fabrication routes, protection systems and inspection plans.
Internal or external pressure with design and minimum metal temperatures
Corrosive, sour, hydrogen, chloride or cyclic process service
Thick-section forming, restrained welding, heat treatment and examination
System map
Material and product selection by project system
| System | Selection drivers and alternatives | Reviewed starting points |
|---|---|---|
| Shells, heads and cones |
| Carbon steel plateStainless sheet |
| Nozzles, flanges and attachments |
| Carbon steel pipeStainless pipe |
| Welding and heat treatment |
| Carbon and structural steelStainless steel |
| Inspection, testing and certification |
| Carbon steel plateStainless sheet |
Project control
Standards, certification and documents
- Governing construction code, edition, jurisdiction and certification mark
- Design pressure, temperature, MDMT, fluid, corrosion allowance and load cases
- Material specifications, drawings, calculations, WPS/PQR, NDE and heat-treatment procedures
- Material records, traceability map, inspection releases, test report and manufacturer data report
Fabrication and logistics
Package interfaces to control
- Fabrication drawings, welding, heat treatment, coating and repair procedures
- Inspection hold points, testing methods, acceptance criteria and document approval
- Identification through cutting and assembly, preservation, packing and consolidated shipping
- Destination rules, site storage, installation interfaces and delivery sequence
Risk register
Common procurement risks
Buying nominal plate before code material and thickness acceptance is confirmed
Omitting low-temperature toughness, sour service or postweld heat treatment
Substituting similar chemistry across specifications without code approval
Losing traceability during cutting, forming, weld repair or subcontract heat treatment
Comparable offers
Structured RFQ checklist
Project location, service environment, design life and governing codes
System or component, selected material and governing product specification
Dimensions, tolerances, quantity and required delivery sequence
Condition, finish, metallic coating, paint system or corrosion allowance
Fabrication, forming, welding, heat treatment and qualification requirements
Inspection and test plan, acceptance criteria, certificates and hold points
Marking, traceability, packing, preservation and destination
Required delivery date, shipment terms and approved-vendor constraints
Evidence
Sources and review
Project engineering documents and current governing standards supersede this general selection map.
Project sourcing from China
Build a traceable Pressure vessels supply package
Share the design basis, system list, specifications, quantities, inspection plan, destination and delivery schedule.