PROX-SVERS® T-86 Ceramic Support Balls

PROX-SVERS T-86 ceramic support balls are Christy Catalytics' inert catalyst support balls in silica-alumina ceramic: spheres at 63 to 75% silica and 18 to 28% alumina, an inert bed support media that holds a catalyst or adsorbent bed in place above the support plate and distributes flow through it. The data sheet rates T-86 to a maximum use temperature of 1800°F (982°C), with water absorption at or below 0.9%, a hardness above 8 Mohs, and passes on the UOP pressure shock and thermal shock tests. Interra Global supplies T-86 under the maker's name for specifications that call for it and for change-outs of beds already loaded with it. For the general run of catalyst and adsorbent beds at or below 325°C (617°F), cSPHERE A25 is Interra Global's house brand in the same material class, and the alumina grades, PROX-SVERS T-46 and PROX-SVERS T-99, take the hot, wet, and silica-sensitive beds. All four are graded by size to carry a bed and keep it in place.

Typical Chemical Composition

• Silica (SiO₂): 63 to 75%
• Alumina (Al₂O₃): 18 to 28%
• Silica plus alumina (SiO₂ + Al₂O₃): 91% or more
• Calcia (CaO): less than 1%
• Titania (TiO₂): less than 2%
• Alkalies (K₂O and Na₂O): 1 to 4%
• Magnesia (MgO): less than 1%
• Leachable iron: less than 0.001%
• Leachable sulphur and chlorides: none detected

Typical Applications

PROX-SVERS T-86 is typically used as the support layer under beds whose specification or existing load names it:

• Adsorbent beds of molecular sieve, activated alumina, or silica gel, in ethanol dehydration, natural gas dehydration, and similar drying and purification service
• Catalyst beds in refining and petrochemical service, for which the data sheet prints the UOP pressure shock and thermal shock results

Sizes and Packaging

Interra Global carries PROX-SVERS T-86 ceramic support balls in seven sizes:

• 1/8 inch (3.2 mm)
• 1/4 inch (6.4 mm)
• 3/8 inch (9.5 mm)
• 1/2 inch (12.7 mm)
• 3/4 inch (19 mm)
• 1 inch (25.4 mm)
• 2 inch (50.8 mm)

The other sizes on the data sheet, 5/8 inch (15.9 mm), 1-1/4 inch (31.8 mm), and 1-1/2 inch (38.1 mm), are quoted on request. Support layers are typically graded from the smallest balls directly under the working bed to the largest at the outlet collector, and the loading drawing sets the sizes and depths. Packaging is 1 cubic foot (28 liter) bags for sizes up to 1 inch and 25 cubic foot (708 liter) bulk sacks for every size except 3/8 inch; the 1 inch size is also packed in 0.5 cubic foot (14 liter) bags, and the 1/2 inch size in 20 cubic foot (566 liter) bulk sacks. Pricing, availability, and lead time are quoted by size on request.

Interra Global supplies PROX-SVERS T-86 ceramic support balls for new loads and change-outs, quotes them by size, and answers sizing and quantity questions against a loading drawing. Specifications and purchase orders name the grade in several forms, T-86 PROX-SVERS, T86 inert ceramic support, or Christy T86 ceramic balls; the sizes above apply under any of them.