How Do I Choose The Right Material For A Pressure Vessel: A Selection Guide How do I choose the right material for a pressure vessel? You select the material from the service conditions, in this order: what the medium is and how corrosive it is, the design temperature, the chloride and pH level, whether the duty is abrasive, and the applicable code and cost target. The typical mapping is carbon steel for dry, clean, non-corrosive service; 304 or 316L stainless steel where