Fast Chromium/Molybdenum/Copper Screening for FAC-Susceptible Carbon Steel

Flow-Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) programs rely on identifying low-chromium carbon steel piping that is more susceptible to accelerated wall thinning. The Evident Vanta Core is a rugged, easy-to-use handheld XRF analyzer designed for fast chromium screening in FAC inspection jobs.

The Vanta Core provides real-time material chemistry data directly on the pipe—supporting inspection prioritization, outage planning, and risk-based maintenance decisions in power generation environments.

For critical FAC applications, many teams rely on new handheld XRF analyzers to ensure accuracy, compliance, and repeatability.

Why the Vanta Core Is Used for FAC Screening

FAC susceptibility increases sharply in very low-Cr carbon steels. Even small increases in chromium content can significantly reduce FAC rate, making chromium verification a critical early step in FAC programs.

The Vanta Core is well-suited for:

• Rapid, 100% non-destructive, XRF chromium screening
• Field PMI verification for FAC evaluation
• Identifying low-Cr piping segments for further inspection

It is commonly selected where speed, durability, and simplicity are priorities.

FAC Inspection Applications

The Vanta Core is frequently used for:

• FAC analysis in fossil and nuclear power plants
• Screening carbon steel piping based on Cr/Cu/Mo content
• Inspecting elbows, reducers, tees, and high-turbulence areas
• Supporting inspection prioritization for UT thickness measurement
• Verifying installed materials during maintenance and outages

Handheld XRF is not a thickness measurement tool, but it plays a critical upstream role in FAC inspection programs by identifying where further inspection effort should be focused.

Key Elements for FAC Screening with Vanta Core

The Vanta Core is typically used to evaluate:

• Chromium (Cr) – primary FAC susceptibility indicator
• Copper (Cu) – secondary indicator
• Molybdenum (Mo) – secondary indicator

Chromium measurement is the most important output for FAC screening decisions.

Typical FAC Process with the Vanta Core

1. Identify FAC-prone locations
   Focus on elbows, bends, reducers, and known high-flow areas.
2. Prepare the surface
   Remove paint, oxide scale, oil, and contamination to ensure accurate chromium measurement.
3. Perform rapid XRF testing
   Short test times allow fast differentiation between low-Cr and higher-Cr materials.
4. Record and analyze the data
   Use chemistry results to guide UT thickness inspections and maintenance planning.

Why Inspection Teams Choose Vanta Core for FAC

• Fast screening performance (seconds)
  Optimized for quick chromium verification during walkdowns.
• Rugged field design
  Built to withstand harsh industrial and power-plant environments.
• Simple operation
  Minimal training required for effective FAC screening use.
• Proven PMI platform
  Supports both FAC screening and general material verification tasks.

The Vanta Core is ideal when FAC programs need rapid, reliable chromium screening without unnecessary complexity.

Typical FAC Use Cases

• Initial screening of legacy carbon steel piping
• Confirming material upgrades and replacements
• Prioritizing inspection scope during outages
• Supporting risk-based maintenance planning
• Reducing unexpected FAC-related failures

What This Analyzer Is (and Is Not)

The Vanta Core is:
✔ A fast, non-destructive screening tool for FAC-susceptible materials
✔ Ideal for identifying low-chromium carbon steel
✔ A practical front-end tool for inspection planning

The Vanta Core is not:
✖ A replacement for ultrasonic thickness measurement
✖ A standalone corrosion-rate predictor

FAC is multi-factor, but material chemistry is foundational, and the Vanta Core delivers that chemistry quickly and reliably.

Included with Purchase

• Evident Vanta Core handheld XRF analyzer
• Factory calibration and software
• Batteries and charger
• Rugged carrying case
• Alloy Geek onboarding and support

Is the Evident Vanta Core Right for Your FAC Program?

The Vanta Core is an excellent fit if you need:

• Fast chromium screening during FAC projects
• A rugged, easy-to-use handheld XRF
• Reliable PMI plus FAC screening in one platform

Choose the Evident Vanta Core when your FAC program prioritizes speed, simplicity, and durability.

Documents

• Evident Vanta Core Brochure
  
• Evident Vanta Core User Manual

To Request a Quote

• Request a Quote Online
• Call us at 919-400-1216
• Email us at [email protected]