In SS component we often perform UT Thickness gaging and also many inspectors mark and do comment on job by some yellow chalk or paint. Now many grease and yellow chalk contains "Sulphur" which are harmful to SS and can become a cause for pitting and other Sulphur related local degradation . Is there any national/international specification which specifies maximum limit of sulphur etc. to be safe for use in SS items?

Debasis Users or inspectors who apply grease or crayon markings for UT thickness for marking local spots in SS components are aware and mostly insist that these have to be erased or removed after job is completed. I guess you should be more concerned on lead based paint application than sulphur based paint or grease application. Sulphur based greae or oil or paint or crayon - whichever is used for local spot markings - may cause problems at higher temperatures but not ambient temperature conditions (righltly pointed out by David Henderix) if the S.S component had been supplied in annealed conditions. Normally, pipes or components ordered will be in annelaed conditions. More than any standard for this, i guess that plant inspector or maintenance person should insist on removal of the same immediately after UT thickness record job is over instead of leaving the unwanted lead or sulphur based crayon or paint marking.. S.S components supplied in annealed conditions - which is the standard supply when ordered - may not cause you big worries if unoticeable paint or grease had been left out under ambient to reasonable temperature limits < 60-70 deg cent. I am not aware of any international standard specifying the limits for sulphur or lead content for marking chalk or paints. I have seen some leading designer specifications for piping or fabrication of piping clearly specify and prohibit use of lead based paints or some third party inspectors who are conscious on this insist on removal after inspection is over of the particukar marked location. Trust this is of help to you C.V.Srinivasan Nishi Engineers Pvt Ltd Chennai India July 17,2005 E-mail:nishi@vsnl.com >Debasis: > >We are not aware of any codes or standards regulating the >level of sulfur. The sulfur would be most harmful at >elevated temperatures. At ambient temperatures its >detrimental effect might depend on the specific sulfur >species. > > > >David Hendrix >The Hendrix Group Inc.

MJCronin Tk u for giving this useful information on chloride free marker for S.S. Link is useful to all for future requrirements. C.V.Srinivasan Nishi Engineers Pvt Ltd Chennai India July 26 E-mail:nishi@vsnl.com >To all, > >You may or may not be aware of some "chloride free" markers >that were developed specifically for stainless steel >components. > >They are advertized as both "chloride and sulfur free" and >they meet the "United States Energy Research and >Development Administration's RDT Standard F-7-3T. "...which >may be the standard that you are talking about > >The Nissen Company seems to own this niche..... > >See this link: > >http://www.newmantools.com/nissenlc.htm > > >MJC