Capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground is one of the key means to deal with climate change. However, carbonic acid formed by high concentration of CO in contact with water is extremely corrosive, which puts a severe test on the material of transportation and sealing pipelines. In 2026, with the domestic million-ton CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) project entering the peak period of construction, a "steel sandwich" with both cost and corrosion resistance-stainless steel composite plate is quietly becoming a new outlet for steel enterprises to compete for layout.
Recently, industry research data shows that the demand for high-alloy stainless steel composite plates in domestic CCUS projects will exceed 350,000 tons in 2026, driven by the dual-carbon target, and the average annual growth rate is expected to reach 28% in the next five years. This material takes ordinary carbon steel (such as Q345R) as the base material to ensure strength, stainless steel (such as 316L) as the composite material to be responsible for corrosion resistance, and metallurgical grade bonding is realized by vacuum rolling technology.
In a million-ton CCUS demonstration project in Erdos, Inner Mongolia, this composite material has shown remarkable advantages. The person in charge of the project told the reporter that after the absorption tower was made of duplex stainless steel composite plate supplied by baoshan iron & steel, the equipment maintenance cycle was greatly extended from twice a year to once every five years. Although the initial procurement cost is higher than that of ordinary carbon steel, the comprehensive cost is reduced by 40% including the maintenance cost and shutdown loss in the whole life cycle. This idea that "good steel is used on the blade" is being accepted by more and more engineering projects.
Market trend: In addition to CCUS, this composite material can quickly replace pure stainless steel in chemical industry, hydrometallurgy and other fields. According to the feedback from pipe fittings manufacturers in Cangzhou and other places, the number of inquiries for high-pressure carbon steel, alloy steel and stainless steel composite pipe fittings from the petrochemical field has increased significantly recently. This "different inside and outside" material design not only meets the technological requirements of corrosive medium, but also saves real money for the owner.
