Sun-Z-R Cladding Technology

In recent years, specialty metals such as titanium, niobium, tantalum, and zirconium have been used increasingly in a wide range of corrosion resistant applications. Typically, the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, electronic and electroplating industries as well as power stations and desalinization plants use these high performance, corrosion resistant metals cost effectively. Efficient use of these metals can significantly reduce overall cost. For this reason, Showa developed the SUN-Z-R technology in an effort to utilize these metals in many of their products.

What is Sun-Z-R?

The SUN-Z-R technology, developed in 1963, is a unique seam braze cladding method which has overcome many of the disadvantages of the conventional explosion bonding technique. The SUN-Z-R technology allows specialty metals (0.2mm to 2.0 mm) to be clad to copper, steel, aluminum, or stainless steel regardless of shape, or thickness of the base metal. This means SUN-Z-R can be applied to columns, vessels, reactors, sheets/plates, heads, tubesheets, pipes, tank trucks, or almost any shape or size of structural component. The SUN-Z-R lining can be manufactured to withstand full vacuum and the consequences of severe agitation. It is applicable to a wide range of applications.

Conventional explosion bonding of plates accomplishes some of the cost saving objectives. However, there are many restrictions to the explosion clad product. The thickness of the corrosion resistant material must be greater than 2mm and the base metal, or structural component, must have sufficient thickness to overcome the effects of the explosion. Fabrication techniques used to manufacture explosion bonded products can be complicated and troublesome.

SPF Corporation of America, 12257-A FM 529, Houston, TX 77041. Tel: 713-983-9373; Fax: 713-983-0589.