Costing of tungsten vessel

[LevityMaster]

Are there any tips you can give on costing a tungsten or molybdenum vessel? Pressure is approximately 1 bar. Also how would I cost insulation (say, alumina) for this?

 

[JStephen]

I didn't know you could build a vessel from either material, actually.

What size?
Can you buy plate in those materials at any price?
Can you weld it?
Are the materials covered by vessel codes? If not, is code construction required?

 

[dhengr]

LevityMaster:
What ASME or ASTM material specs. are you talking about? Are you actually talking about a fairly std. alloyed steel with a little tungsten or molybdenum in its chemistry?

 

[LevityMaster]

@All: thanx for your interest in this thread

@JStephen: As to size I was not interested in a particular size but a formula. I know Ultramet does a lot of work with refractories. I assume it can be induction or resistance welded at least. I can't answer about the code questions.

@dhengr: I don't have anything on the specs. I'm essentially talking pure metal although there could be some alloying.

 

[JStephen]

Typically, if it's a carbon steel vessel of "average" size, it's going to be fabricated (by welding) from commercially-available carbon steel plate, pipe, heads, and fittings, and will be designed in accordance with whatever pressure vessel/boiler code is applicable in that location.

IF it's some type of reasonably-available and commonly used alloy or metal, it'll generally be fabricated in the same way. The material cost will go up, the labor cost will go up, and it may be several times as expensive as carbon steel. So this would apply to various grades of stainless steel, aluminum, and some other alloys used mainly for corrosion resistance.

If you want to make it out of a material/alloy that is not readily available in plate/pipe/bar/head form, or the material is not readily formed, or if the material is not readily weldable (or commonly welded), or if the material is not covered by the pressure vessel codes, it's anybody's guess as to what you could spend trying to make it. It could surely be done, but might turn into a NASA-type project, too.

If it was small enough that it could be machined out of a solid block of the material, that would be another option, assuming blocks of that material are available.