Thermowell materials for various average applications are listed in the following table. The list has been carefully prepared and takes into consideration such factors as contamination, electrolysis, catalytic reaction and other variables. Standard materials are recommended wherever possible. Service may vary, however, in industrial use as a result of temperature, pressure, concentration and impurities in the corrosive medium.
While the recommendations cannot guarantee service, they will serve as an effective guide. Thermo Sensors Corporation can provide consultation for special applications upon request.
| Industry | Application | Conditions | Material |
| Cement and Lime | Kiln Hot End (Clinker) Cool End (Flue) Clinker Cooler Exit Flue | To 2600 °F 600-2000 °F to 1200 °F | C30 Ceramic 28% Chrome Iron – Inconel 601 Cerampak – 28% Chrome Iron – Inconel 601 Inconel 601, 28% Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide, Silicon Nitride |
| Ceramic | Dryers Kilns – Brick Vitreous Enameling Grinding Wheels Abrasive Grits Porcelain Pottery | 1800-2200 °F 1600-2000 °F to 500 °F to 2300 °F 2000-2400 °F | Carbon Steel – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride – Wrought Iron C30 Ceramic – Inconel 600 – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Inconel 600 – Firebrick – 28 % Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Wrought Iron C30 Ceramic C30 Ceramic |
| Chemical | Acetate Solvents Acetic Acid Acetic Anhydride Acetone Acetone Acetylene Alcohol Ethyl Alcohol Methyl   Aluminum Aluminum Acetate Aluminum Chloride Aluminum Sulphate Ammonia Ammonia Hydroxide Ammonia Liquors Ammonia Phosphate (Dibasic) (Monobasic) (Tribasic) Ammonium Chloride Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium Sulphate Amylacetate Aniline Asphalt Barium Carbonate Barium Chloride Barium Hydroxide Benzaldehyde Benzene Benzine Benzol Boracic Acid Brines Bromine Butadiene Butane Buthlacetate Butyl Alcohol Butylenes Butyric Acid Calcium Bisulfite Calcium Chlorate Calcium Hydroxide Carbolic Acid Carbon Dioxide Carbon Tetrachloride Chlorex Caustic Chlorine Gas Chromic Acid Citric Acid Coal Tar Coke Oven Gas Copper Nitrate Copper Sulphate Core Oils Cottonseed Oil Creosols Creosote Crude Cyanogen Gas Detergents Dowtherm Epsom Salts Ether Ethyl Acetate Ethyl Chloride Ethyl Sulphate Ethylene Glycol Ferric Chloride Ferric Sulphate Ferrous Sulphate Fluorine (Anhydrous) Formaldehyde Formic Acid Freon Furfural Gallic Acid Gasoline Glucose Glue Glycerine Glycerol Hydrobromic Acid Hydrochloric Acid Hydrocyanic Acid Hydrofluogilicic Acid Hydrofluoric Acid Hydrogen Chloride Hydrogen Fluoride Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen Sulphide Iodine Kerosene Lactic Acid Lacquer Latex Lime Sulphur Linseed Oil Magnesium Chloride Magnesium Hydroxide Magnesium Sulphate Malic Acid Mercuric Chloride Mercury Methane Methyl Chloride Methylene Chloride Milk Mixed Acids (Sulphuric & Nitric) Molasses Muriatic Acid Naphtha Natural Gas Neon Nickel Chloride Nickel Sulphate Nitric Acid Nitrobenzene Oleic Acid Oleum Oxalic Acid Oxygen Palmitic Acid Pentane Petroleum Ether Phenol Phosphoric Acid Photographic Bleaching Picric Acid Potassium Bromide Potassium Carbonate Potassium Chlorate Potassium Chloride Potassium Hydroxide Potassium Nitrate Potassium Permanganate Potassium Sulphate Potassium Sulphide Propane Pyrogallic Acid Quinine Bisulphate Quinine Sulphate Resin Rosin Sea Water Sal Ammoniac Salicylic Acid Shellac Soap and Detergents Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Bisulphate Sodium Bisulphite Sodium Carbonate Sodium Chloride Sodium Chromate Sodium Cyanide Sodium Fluoride Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hypochlorite Sodium Nitrate Sodium Peroxide Sodium Phosphate Sodium Silicate Sodium Sulphate Sodium Sulphide Sodium Sulphite Sodium Thiosulphate Steam Stearic Acid Sulphur Dioxide Sulphur Sulphur Chloride Sulphur Trioxide Sulphuric Acid Sulphurous Acid Tannic Acid Tartaric Acid Tin Titanium Tetrachloride Toluene Trichloracetic Acid Trichloroethylene Turpentine Varnish Vegetable Oil Vinegar Water-Acid Water Distilled (Condensate) Water Whiskey & Wine Xylene Zinc Chloride Zinc Zinc Sulphate | Crude or Pure 10%-70 °F 50%-70 °F 50%-212 °F 99%-70 °F 99%-212 °F 212 °F 70 °F 212 °F 70 °F 212 °F Molten Saturated 10%-70 °F Saturated 70 °F 10%-212 °F Saturated 212 °F All Concentrations 70 °F All Concentrations 212 °F All Concentrations 70 °F All Concentrations 212 °F 5%-70 °F 10%-212 °F Saturated 212 °F All Concentrations 70 °F 70 °F 5%-70 °F Saturated 70 °F Aqueous – Hot 70 °F Hot 5% Hot or Cold 70 °F Dry 125 °F 70°F 5%-70 °F 5%-150 °F Boiling 70 °F Dilute 70 °F Dilute 150 °F 10%-212 °F 20%-212 °F 50%-212 °F All-212 °F Dry Wet 10%-70 °F Dry 70 °F Moist 70 °F Moist 212 °F 5%-70 °F 10%-212 °F 50%-212 °F 15%-70 °F 15%-212 °F Concentrated 212 °F Hot Hot and Cold 70 °F 70 °F Dry to 500 °F 70 °F 1%-70 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-Boiling 5%-70 °F Dilute 70 °F 100 °F 5% 70 °F 5%-150 °F 450 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-150 °F 70 °F 70 °F Ph 6-8 70 °F 48%-212 °F 1%-70 °F 1%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F 25%-70 °F 25%-212 °F 40%-212 °F Dry 500 °F Dry 175 °F 70 °F 212 °F Wet and Dry 70 °F 70 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-150 °F 10%-212 °F 70 °F 70 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F All-75% Hot & Cold Hot & Cold 10%-75 °F 100%-700 °F 70 °F Dry 75 °F All-212 °F All 70 °F 70 °F 70 °F 70 °F 70 °F Hot & Cold 5%-70 °F 20%-70 °F 50%-70 °F 50%-212 °F 65%-212 °F Concentrated 70 °F Concentrated 212 °F 70 °F 70 °F 70 °F 5%-Hot & Cold 10%-212 °F 70 °F Liquid Oxygen Elevated Temperatures 1 %-70 °F 5%-70 °F 10%-70 °F 10%-212 °F 30%-70 °F 30%-212 °F 85%-70 °F 85%-212 °F All-100 °F 70 °F 70 °F 1%-70 °F 70 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 25%-212 °F 50%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F 70 °F Dry Dry Molten 70 °F All Concentrations 70 °F 5%-150 °F 20%-212 °F 20%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-150 °F 40%-212 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-150 °F 30%-300 °F Saturated 70 °F Saturated 212 °F All 212 °F All 212 °F 5%-70 °F 5% Still 10%-75 °F Fused 70 °F 70 °F 150 °F All 212 °F Moist Gas – 70 °F Gas – 575 °F Dry – Molten Wet Dry 75 °F Dry 500 °F 5%-70 °F 5%-212 °F 10%-70 °F 10%-212 °F 50%-70 °F 50%-212 °F 90% 70 °F 90%-212 °F Fuming 175 °F 20%-75 °F 70 °F 5% -10% 40%-70 °F 70 °F 150 °F Molten All 75 °F All 75 °F 70 °F Dry 300 °F Fresh Salt Molten 5%-70 °F Saturated 70 °F 25%-212 °F | Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel – Monel Monel Monel Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Cast Iron 304 Stainless Steel Hastelloy B 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 2024-T4 Aluminum – 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 2024-T4 Aluminum – 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel Monel Phosphor Bronze Monel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Monel – 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – Monel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel Monel Monel – Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C C1018 Steel C1018 Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 2024-T4 Aluminum – Monel – Inconel 600 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Monel Tantalum Sleeved Monel Brass – 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Monel Copper – 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – Phosphor Bronze 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 2024-T4 Aluminum – Monel – Brass 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel Monel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Hastelloy C Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel – Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel 2024-T4 Aluminum 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – Monel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel Monel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Tantalum Sleeved Tantalum Sleeved – Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel 316 Stainless Steel Monel Monel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 2024-T4 Aluminum – 304 Stainless 304 Stainless Steel – Brass 304 Stainless Steel – Brass Hastelloy C – Hastelloy B Hastelloy C Hastelloy B Hastelloy C Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B 304 Stainless Steel Monel Hastelloy C 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Tantalum Sleeved C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Tantalum Sleeved 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel C1018 Steel-304 Stainless Steel-316 Stainless Steel-Monel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel Monel Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – Monel 316 Stainless Steel Hastelloy C C1018 Steel C1018 Steel C1018 Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – Nickel Carpenter #20 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Nickel Tantalum Sleeved 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Tantalum Sleeved 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Monel C1018 Steel 304 Stainiess Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Hastelloy C Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel Monel Monel Nickel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Monel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Monel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel C1018 Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel Hastelloy B – Carpenter #20 Hastelloy B – Carpenter #20 Hastelloy B – Carpenter #20 Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B Hastelloy B – Carpenter #20 Hastelloy C 316 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Hastelloy B 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel Cast Iron 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – Phosphor Bronze – Monel Hastelloy B C1018 Steel Monel 304 Stainless Steel – 316 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Brass – C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel Copper – C1018 Steel – 304 Stainless Steel – Monel – Brass 2024-T4 Aluminum – Phosphor Bronze – Brass – Monel 304 Stainless Steel – Nickel Copper Monel – Hastelloy B Cast Iron 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel |
| Food | Baking Ovens Char Retort, Sugar Vegetables and Fruit | 400-900 °F 500-700 °F 200-300 °F | Wrought Iron – Bare Thermocouple Wrought Iron 304 Stainless Steel |
| Gas | Producer gas Water gas Carburetor Superheater Tar stills | 28% Chrome Iron – Inconel 601 Inconel 600 – 28% Chrome Iron Inconel 600 – 28% Chrome Iron C1018 Steel | |
| Glass | Melting tank Roof & Wall Flues and Checkers Forehearth and Feeder Lehr Open Hearth Roof | to 2400 °F to 1800 °F to 2200 °F 300-500 °F | C30 Ceramic Inconel 600 – 28% Chrome Iron – Wrought Iron Bare Platinum Thremocouple Wrought Iron LT-1 |
| Heat Treatine | Annealing Hardening Open Fired or Electric Heated H. S. Tool Steel Salt Baths Neutral High Speed Lead Pot Cyanide Pot Lavite Pot Carburizing Gas Cyanide Pot Nitriding Quench Oil | to 1200 °F 1300-2000 °F to 1500 °F to 2000 °F to 2400 °F to 2350 °F to 2000 °F to 2350 °F to 2000 °F 1750 °F 2350 °F 2400 °F to 2000 °F to 1000 °F 900 °F | Wrought Iron Inconel 600 – Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron (for sulphur atmospheres) Wrought Iron Inconel 600 – 28% Chrome Iron C30 Ceramic Inconel 600 – Nickel 28% Chrome Iron C30 Ceramic 28% Chrome Iron Inconel 600 – Nickel Nickel Inconel 600 – 28% Chrome Iron Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron Nickel 28% Chrome Iron Wrought Iron |
| Iron and Steel | Blast Furnace Down Comer Stove Dome Stock Trunk Stove Outlet Flue Hot Blast Main Open Hearth Flues and Stack Checkers Waste Head Boilers Soaking Pits Billet and Slab Furnace Forging Furnace Annealing Bright Annealing Batch Continuous Pickling Galvanizing Tinning Tin Pot Palm Oil Vacuum Melting (Induction Melting) | 1800-2300 °F 900-1600 °F to 1800 °F to 2200 °F to 1600 °F 2000 °F Over 2000 °F 2000 °F Over 2000 °F 2000-2400 °F to 3200 °F | Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Inconel 600 Wrought Iron Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron – LT-1 Inconel 601 – LT-1 Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Silicon Carbide – C30 Ceramic – Silicon Nitride Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron Silicon Carbide – C30 Ceramic – Silicon Nitride Silicon Carbide – C30 Ceramic – Silicon Nitride Inconel 600 – Inconel 601 or 28% Chrome Iron (for sulphur atmospheres) Inconel 600 C30 Ceramic – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Lead Sheath – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride XH Seamless Steel – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Seamless Steel – 28% Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride 304 Stainless Steel C98 Ceramic |
| Nonferrous Metals | Aluminum Melting Pot Pouring Ladles Furnaces Heat Treating Die Casting Magnesium Melt Die Casting Ladle Lead Pots Brass Ladle Billet and Forging Anneal Copper Molten Smelting & Ore Roasters Tin Pot Zinc Die Casting | 1300 to 1400 °F 950 °F 800-1300 °F 1000 °F 1500 °F 500 °F 800 °F | Cast Iron (Washed) – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride Open end thermocouple assemblies 304 Stainless Steel Cerampak Wrought Iron – 304 Stainless Steel Cerampak Cast Iron – Wrought Iron – Silicon Carbide Wrought Iron Wrought Iron Wrought Iron Wrought Iron 28% Chrome Iron – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride LT-1 – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride – Immersion T/C Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron Wrought Iron – 304 Stainless Steel Cerampak Silicon Nitride- LT-1 Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron – C30 Ceramic – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride XH Seamless Steel – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride XH Seamless Steel – Silicon Carbide – Silicon Nitride |
| Paper | Digesters Sulphur Burners | 220-300 °F 900-1400 °F | 316 Stainless Steel – Tantalum Sleeved Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron – LT-1 |
| Petroleum | Cracking Lines Dewaxing Fractionating Column Top Tower Reaction Chamber Tube Still Inlet Tube Still Bridge Wall | 950 °F minus 20 °F 150-500 °F 850-890 °F 575-700 °F 1500-2200 °F | 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel Inconel 600 |
| Power and Heat | Fire Box Flue gas Preheaters Steam lines Powdered coal air Diesel engine exhaust Water lines | 1800-2200 °F 450-1000 °F 200-500 °F 300-950 °F 500 °F 600 °F | Inconel 600 304 Stainless Steel Cerampak Wrought Iron – 28% Chrome Iron Wrought Iron – 304 Stainless Steel Cerampak 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel 304 Stainless Steel C1018 Carbon Steel |
| Smelting and Refining | Roasting Sulphur Ores Zinc Retort Preheater Zinc Spelter | 700-1900 °F 1300-2400 °F 700-900 °F | 28% Chrome Iron – Inconel 601 C30 Ceramic 28% Chrome Iron |
| Misc. | Asphalt mixing Incinerator | to 2000 °F over 2000 °F | Wrought Iron – Sand Thermocouple Inconel 601 – 28% Chrome Iron C30 Ceramic – SiIicon Carbide – SiIicon Nitride |
