On This Page On This Page Purchase with Confidence Make an informed autoclave purchasing decision by asking these key questions before you buy. Download the eBook Autoclave Chamber Material: Stainless Steel vs Nickel-Clad Written by: Amit Gupta MS Mechanical Engineering, Vice President of Engineering Current, state-of-the-art laboratory autoclave chambers are manufactured using stainless steel. In the past, autoclave manufacturers constructed sterilizers using nickel-clad, a highly corrosion-resistant material. The industry has shifted due to the rising cost of “cladding” over the last 10-15 years, heading in the direction of primarily 316L stainless steel. Why should you care? Because while stainless steel has many excellent properties, some common misconceptions about its versatility can lead to premature corrosion of this material. In short, there is a time and place where nickel-clad chambers are worth the investment. Stainless Steel Autoclave Chambers Stainless steel is a versatile material that is used in many industries from food preparation and medical devices to manufacturing equipment and semi-conductors. Within the medical and laboratory equipment fields, the most popular metal of choice is “type 316L” stainless steel. This material has gained so much popularity because of its strength, stability, and ease of cleaning. But although stainless steel is the preferred method of construction, there are many instances where nickel-clad should be considered. As its name implies, stainless steel is “less” prone to staining (and corrosion) than regular steel but unfortunately it is not stain “proof”. Let’s explore this topic further. Causes of Corrosion Corrosion of stainless steel autoclave chambers can occur from a number of different sources ranging from poor water or steam quality to chemical contamination. Here are some common culprits: Chlorides, sulfates, chlorine, hypochlorites, bleach, and acids aggressively attack stainless steel and can cause significant damage to the autoclave chamber and plumbing. Hypochlorites, acids and bleaches are so caustic that they should never be sterilized or used to clean an autoclave. Keep in mind that autoclaves require a combination of heat and moisture to perform proper sterilization. So when high-temperature steam is combined with certain chemicals, the corrosion within the autoclave is accelerated. High-concentration salt solutions such as seawater have a large amount of chlorides and should not be sterilized in stainless steel autoclaves. Tap water with high amounts of chlorine or chlorides should not be used to generate steam for a stainless steel autoclave. Nickel-Clad Autoclave Chambers If high-concentration salt solutions (see above) will be sterilized in the autoclave or if the feed-water or tap-water for steam generation has high chloride content, then purchasing a sterilizer with a nickel-clad chamber (versus stainless steel) is recommended. Even though stainless steel has many benefits, nickel-clad is superior to stainless steel in conditions with high chloride concentrations. The term “nickel-clad” stems from a process called Cladding. In the case of an autoclave chamber, the cladding process involves nickel being bonded to carbon steel to improve its durability and strength. Cladded steel plate is often used in corrosive environments where other materials or coating methods are not suitable. Best Practices for All Autoclave Chambers Cleaning The life of the autoclave will be extended and damage will be greatly minimized if the chamber is cleaned immediately after each use. Look for an autoclave chamber cleaning solution that is specially formulated to remove contaminants on a stainless steel surface – the last thing you want to do is use a cleaning agent that corrodes the autoclave chamber. Passivation If solutions with mild chloride content will be sterilized, then “passivation” of the autoclave chamber is recommended. Passivating a stainless steel chamber occurs at the factory and is a process that makes the surface more corrosion resistant by restoring its protective oxide layer. The combination of passivation coupled with diligent cleaning of the chamber will greatly extend the chamber life. It should be noted that typical LB, agar, and tryptic-soy solutions have a much lower chloride content than high-salt solutions and in turn are safer for stainless steel autoclaves. If you are unsure of what configuration should be used in your application, contact Consolidated Sterilizer Systems or to speak with someone call directly at 617-782-6072. 17 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Next Autoclave With so many models, sizes, options and components to choose from, how can you ever really know exactly what you need to make the most out of your investment? These questions will help you to make informed decisions by outlining what is most important to consider and know about owning an autoclave. X/Twitter (Optional)This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.First Name*Last Name*Company/Organization*Email* This field is hidden when viewing the formPhone Number*Job Title*Select OneArchitectGeneral ContractorLab ManagerFacilities ManagerService TechnicianScientistSterile Processing TechnicianDistributorOtherDescribe "Other"*Country*United StatesAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBahamasBarbadosBermudaCanadaCosta RicaDominican RepublicHondurasJamaicaMartiniqueMexicoPuerto RicoSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaTrinidad and TobagoTurks and CaicosOtherState*Select OneAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingAre You Looking to Purchase an Autoclave?*Select OneYes, ImmediatelyYes, within 6 monthsYes, later than 6 monthsNo, just researchingPhone*Are you in a medical/healthcare (patient use) or life science (laboratory) setting?*Select OneMedical/HealthcareLife ScienceWhat type of healthcare facility do you work in?*Select OneHospitalAmbulatory Surgery CenterVeterinary/Vet HospitalDentalFamily PracticeOther Yes, I'd like to receive occasional tips on sterilization best practices. 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Autoclave Chamber Material: Stainless Steel vs Nickel-Clad Written by: Amit Gupta MS Mechanical Engineering, Vice President of Engineering Current, state-of-the-art laboratory autoclave chambers are manufactured using stainless steel. In the past, autoclave manufacturers constructed sterilizers using nickel-clad, a highly corrosion-resistant material. The industry has shifted due to the rising cost of “cladding” over the last 10-15 years, heading in the direction of primarily 316L stainless steel. Why should you care? Because while stainless steel has many excellent properties, some common misconceptions about its versatility can lead to premature corrosion of this material. In short, there is a time and place where nickel-clad chambers are worth the investment. Stainless Steel Autoclave Chambers Stainless steel is a versatile material that is used in many industries from food preparation and medical devices to manufacturing equipment and semi-conductors. Within the medical and laboratory equipment fields, the most popular metal of choice is “type 316L” stainless steel. This material has gained so much popularity because of its strength, stability, and ease of cleaning. But although stainless steel is the preferred method of construction, there are many instances where nickel-clad should be considered. As its name implies, stainless steel is “less” prone to staining (and corrosion) than regular steel but unfortunately it is not stain “proof”. Let’s explore this topic further. Causes of Corrosion Corrosion of stainless steel autoclave chambers can occur from a number of different sources ranging from poor water or steam quality to chemical contamination. Here are some common culprits: Chlorides, sulfates, chlorine, hypochlorites, bleach, and acids aggressively attack stainless steel and can cause significant damage to the autoclave chamber and plumbing. Hypochlorites, acids and bleaches are so caustic that they should never be sterilized or used to clean an autoclave. Keep in mind that autoclaves require a combination of heat and moisture to perform proper sterilization. So when high-temperature steam is combined with certain chemicals, the corrosion within the autoclave is accelerated. High-concentration salt solutions such as seawater have a large amount of chlorides and should not be sterilized in stainless steel autoclaves. Tap water with high amounts of chlorine or chlorides should not be used to generate steam for a stainless steel autoclave. Nickel-Clad Autoclave Chambers If high-concentration salt solutions (see above) will be sterilized in the autoclave or if the feed-water or tap-water for steam generation has high chloride content, then purchasing a sterilizer with a nickel-clad chamber (versus stainless steel) is recommended. Even though stainless steel has many benefits, nickel-clad is superior to stainless steel in conditions with high chloride concentrations. The term “nickel-clad” stems from a process called Cladding. In the case of an autoclave chamber, the cladding process involves nickel being bonded to carbon steel to improve its durability and strength. Cladded steel plate is often used in corrosive environments where other materials or coating methods are not suitable. Best Practices for All Autoclave Chambers Cleaning The life of the autoclave will be extended and damage will be greatly minimized if the chamber is cleaned immediately after each use. Look for an autoclave chamber cleaning solution that is specially formulated to remove contaminants on a stainless steel surface – the last thing you want to do is use a cleaning agent that corrodes the autoclave chamber. Passivation If solutions with mild chloride content will be sterilized, then “passivation” of the autoclave chamber is recommended. Passivating a stainless steel chamber occurs at the factory and is a process that makes the surface more corrosion resistant by restoring its protective oxide layer. The combination of passivation coupled with diligent cleaning of the chamber will greatly extend the chamber life. It should be noted that typical LB, agar, and tryptic-soy solutions have a much lower chloride content than high-salt solutions and in turn are safer for stainless steel autoclaves. If you are unsure of what configuration should be used in your application, contact Consolidated Sterilizer Systems or to speak with someone call directly at 617-782-6072. 17 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Next Autoclave With so many models, sizes, options and components to choose from, how can you ever really know exactly what you need to make the most out of your investment? These questions will help you to make informed decisions by outlining what is most important to consider and know about owning an autoclave. X/Twitter (Optional)This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.First Name*Last Name*Company/Organization*Email* This field is hidden when viewing the formPhone Number*Job Title*Select OneArchitectGeneral ContractorLab ManagerFacilities ManagerService TechnicianScientistSterile Processing TechnicianDistributorOtherDescribe "Other"*Country*United StatesAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBahamasBarbadosBermudaCanadaCosta RicaDominican RepublicHondurasJamaicaMartiniqueMexicoPuerto RicoSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaTrinidad and TobagoTurks and CaicosOtherState*Select OneAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingAre You Looking to Purchase an Autoclave?*Select OneYes, ImmediatelyYes, within 6 monthsYes, later than 6 monthsNo, just researchingPhone*Are you in a medical/healthcare (patient use) or life science (laboratory) setting?*Select OneMedical/HealthcareLife ScienceWhat type of healthcare facility do you work in?*Select OneHospitalAmbulatory Surgery CenterVeterinary/Vet HospitalDentalFamily PracticeOther Yes, I'd like to receive occasional tips on sterilization best practices. 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5.29.26 Protect Your Sterilizer & Keep Your OR Running With SterilSource → For sterile processing teams at healthcare facilities, providing purified water for their autoclave has historically meant accepting tradeoffs around floor space, budget, and throughput. Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and other, smaller healthcare facilities have felt this most acutely, with many having to choose between installing a bulky reverse osmosis (RO) system that takes up significant […]
5.28.26 Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Introduces SterilSource, a Premium Water Purification System for Healthcare Facilities and Life Science Labs → May 2026, Billerica, MA — Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud to announce the launch of SterilSource, a compact wall-mounted water purification system designed to meet the demanding water quality regulatory requirements of healthcare and life science environments. SterilSource is available in three configurations, offering scalable water treatment solutions from basic mineral and contaminant removal to […]
5.14.26 Consolidated Selected as Small Business Manufacturer by the University of California → What Set Us Apart Throughout the RFP process, Consolidated stood out for our: Relationship with UC, which predates this agreement, with many campuses already standardized on our autoclaves Low cost of ownership through non-proprietary parts and third-party service models, including local service Built-in water- and energy-saving features Support for both in-house and generator steam Custom […]
