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How do I prevent corrosion on a copper coil?

Q: I want to use a copper hot water coil in a furnace that burns anthracite coal. What would you suggest I coat/plate the copper coil with to prevent corrosion from the sulfur and other combustion gases?

A: If the temperature is not too high, copper tubing with an extruded Teflon coating is available. Other coating types may work as well depending on the specifics of your application. I do not have any direct experience with coal-fired furnaces or coatings for this kind of application so I cannot make any specific recommendations. Another possibility would be to replace the copper with a more corrosion resistant alloy. Literature related to the energy industry and coal-fired plants might be a good source of further information.

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