October 27, 2022

Although stainless steel is a common material for parts and machines throughout the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry thanks to its known corrosion resistance, not every stainless-steel alloy can resist corrosion when exposed to certain chemicals or conditions. And when it comes to ensuring the reliability of machinery, mitigating the effects of frequent washdowns and the threat of corrosion are part of the territory.

A pharmaceutical injectables manufacturer was experiencing corrosion problems in production equipment. Its facilities engineering manager contacted General Magnaplate—which specializes in surface enhancements for metals and other substrates—about a stainless-steel condensate pump housing and cover assembly that undergoes a standard cleaning and maintenance cycle. Maintenance personnel sometimes added a chlorine-based cleaning solution but at other times used an ammonia-based cleaning agent in the company's clean in place (CIP) process. These chemicals caused the stainless-steel condensate pump to corrode.

To address the problem, Magnaplate’s technical support group recommended Lectrofluor, which is particularly effective against severe corrosion and chemical attack. Lectrofluor is a polymer-based coating that is well-suited for food and drug manufacturing applications and offers the following features:

• USDA and FDA compliance
• Dry lubricity for low coefficient of friction
• Prevents galling
• Heat stability
• Self-lubricating properties for extended wear
• Mold release properties

Preventing corrosion of stainless-steel parts is not always a straightforward endeavor, especially when harsh, caustic chemicals contact the surfaces. After several months of successful pump cleaning and maintenance without any recurring corrosion issues, the customer reported that the Lectrofluor-coated pump "looks as good as the day it first arrived coated."