Lean Duplex

Beginning in 2003 the costs of austenitic stainless steels, such as type 316L, have risen dramatically. This rise is largely attributable to the six fold increase in the price of Nickel, which comprises about 10% of the above material, and a more than 400% jump in the cost of Molybdenum, which makes up approximately 2% of type 316L stainless steel. Also, robust demand for stainless steel, partially fueled by the booming ethanol industry, has contributed to a supply-demand imbalance. As a result, the price of the most common stainless steel tank trailers almost doubled in the last four years.

Lean Duplex offers several advantages over type 316L stainless steel, besides its lower cost. For instance, Lean Duplex has significantly higher tensile and yield strengths, increased pitting resistance and an improved ability to sustain temperature changes, than the latter material.

The bottom line benefit of Lean Duplex is cost savings. Duplex stainless isn’t new, but before the recent increases in materials costs it wasn’t a cost effective choice. However, with sharp cost increases associated with metals such as nickel, it was worth investigating. When we talk about savings with Lean Duplex, we’re literally talking about thousands of dollars per cargo tank.