Metal Tower Packing
Stainless steel for demanding environments
Lantec manufactures metal random packing in 304SS and 316SS stainless steel for applications where plastic cannot serve: high temperatures and fire-risk environments, with specialty alloys including Duplex 2205SS available on request.
Where Metal Packing Is Required
Plastic packing dominates mass transfer applications where its cost advantage and performance characteristics apply. Metal packing serves the applications where plastic cannot:
High temperature service — Applications above plastic thermal limits require metal construction. Metal packing maintains geometry and performance at temperatures that would deform or degrade thermoplastic alternatives.
Fire-risk environments — Where interrupted liquid flow could expose packing to ignition sources, metal eliminates the combustion risk inherent in plastic media. Marine flue gas desulfurization and shipboard applications often require metal for this reason.
Two Primary Alloys
304 Stainless Steel — General-purpose austenitic stainless for most industrial applications. Good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties at moderate cost.
316 Stainless Steel — Higher molybdenum content than 304SS provides improved resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-containing environments.
Specialty alloys — Duplex 2205 Stainless Steel and other alloys available on request for applications requiring higher strength or corrosion resistance.
High Void Fraction
Lantec metal packing achieves void fractions of 95.6% to 98.5% depending on size, minimizing pressure drop while providing effective mass transfer surface.
Key Benefits
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High-temperature capability — Maintains performance above plastic thermal limits
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Fire-safe construction — Eliminates combustion risk in fire-sensitive applications
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Multiple alloy options — 304SS and 316SS for most applications; specialty alloys including Duplex 2205SS available on request
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High void fraction — 95.6–98.5% void fraction for low pressure drop
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Multiple sizes — 5/8" through 3" nominal for range of tower diameters
Performance Data & Literature
Case Histories
Technical Specifications
Metal Packing Properties — Metric Units
| Size | Nominal Size (mm) | Bulk Density (kg/m³) | Void Fraction (%) | Packing Factor (m⁻¹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE 15 | 15 | 343 | 95.6 | 167 |
| SIZE 25 | 25 | 265 | 96.6 | 135 |
| SIZE 40 | 40 | 179 | 97.7 | 79 |
| SIZE 50 | 50 | 156 | 98.0 | 59 |
| SIZE 70 | 70 | 117 | 98.5 | 39 |
Metal Packing Properties — British Units
| Size | Nominal Size (in) | Bulk Density (lb/ft³) | Void Fraction (%) | Packing Factor (ft⁻¹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE 15 | 5/8 | 21.3 | 95.6 | 51 |
| SIZE 25 | 1 | 16.5 | 96.6 | 41 |
| SIZE 40 | 1.5 | 11.1 | 97.7 | 24 |
| SIZE 50 | 2 | 9.7 | 98.0 | 18 |
| SIZE 70 | 3 | 7.3 | 98.5 | 12 |
Available Alloys
- 304 Stainless Steel
- 316 Stainless Steel
- Specialty alloys including Duplex 2205 Stainless Steel (available on request)