More than twenty years of service experience achieved at bleach plant installations covering mainly filter washers used in chlorine and chlorine dioxide stages is described. Reference to relevant in-plant tests is made, considering the impact of such tests on materials selection for new installations and maintenance work. It also describes experience, though not always for such a long time, from installations of filter presses, displacement drum washers, oxygen delignification reactors and pressurised peroxide reactors. Success stories and failures due to pitting and crevice corrosion are described. The steel grades discussed
are mainly S31254 and S31803/S32205, though some other grades are included for reference. The experience described will facilitate materials selection for equipment intended for modem as well as traditional bleach plant components.