A review.A survey discussing a number of factors beyond chem. compatibility when engineers in the chem. process industries are faced with the selection of materials for process equipment construction taking into account not only overall plant performance, but also improved safety, productivity, or capital expenditure.These factors include alternatives to stainless steel as lining material (glass, fluoropolymers, graphite, modified polymers), chem. compatibility, metallurgical and phys. factors, heat transfer properties, static electricity, equipment application and process conditions, and construction and maintenance factors.