If you work in the corrosion industry, you know something that most people probably don't: corrosion is a big deal! We don't just mean that in the sense that it can cause major damage to infrastructure and equipment, but also that corrosion lands in the news almost every day. Whether it's a corrosion failure, a new innovation, or a change in the market, corrosion frequently makes an appearance in the headlines, whether it flies under many people's radar or not.
Welcome to our first news roundup, where we'll pull together some of the top corrosion-related news and stories from around the web. This week's stories include new innovations, market growth and pressure around increased regulations in the pipeline industry.
Pipeline Crackdown: Regulating Gathering Lines
The pipeline industry is familiar with high levels of regulation. However, there are several areas within the industry that are subject to less scrutiny by authorities. Gathering lines, or the small diameter lines that carry fuel from the wellheads to processing facilities, fall into this "less-regulated" category. Less regulation leaves these pipelines at a higher risk of failure due to insufficient corrosion monitoring. Recent accidents, including two separate explosions in Midland, Texas, last August that involved fatalities, are getting a lot of media attention. These accidents are pressuring organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to create more stringent requirements on owning companies.
New Corrosion Inhibitor Shows Great Promise
According to a report from Swansea University in Wales published in Phys.org, a new corrosion inhibiting pigment, Intelli-ion, which has been developed by Hexigone Inhibitors, is showing an exceptional ability to resist corrosion without using chromate. With agencies within the European Union (EU) banning several types of chromate coatings, and with increased regulation in other countries such as the United States, private companies are specifically looking for corrosion inhibitors without chromate to fight oxidation. Intelli-ion releases corrosion-inhibiting pigments on demand, without chromate. Compared with other chromate-free inhibitors, it has proven to be about 10 times more effective at resisting corrosion.
Carbon Fiber Aerospace Components Minimize Corrosion Concerns
An engine inlet barrel made out of carbon fiber is showing great promise for Honeywell HTF7250G engines, according to AIN Online. The carbon fiber engine inlet barrel, developed by Quiet Technology Aerospace, is intended for use as a replacement for the original aluminum engine inlet barrels on the Honeywell engines. The carbon fiber is much less susceptible to the corrosion that has been a concern for aluminum engine inlet barrels. The company has also developed similar carbon fiber engine inlet barrels for several other engines and plans to develop more in the future.
New Coating Provides Superior Edge Protection
PPG has released a new protective coating specifically designed to adhere to substrate edges better than other types of powder coatings. Edges are common victims of coating damage because of their sharp geometries and exposure to friction with other substrates. Envirocron Extreme Edge Protection, the proprietary name for the coating given by PPG, aims to save applicators money through several means. One money-saving attribute is that it does not require a primer, eliminating an entire operation. Another way the coating can save its users money is by reducing the need for mechanical deburring or blasting of edges. The excellent edge adhesion makes these operations mostly unnecessary as far as coating application is concerned.
Corrosion Inhibitor Market Set for Rapid Expansion
A new report by Data Bridge Market Research says that corrosion inhibition is set to become even more important in the coming years. The corrosion inhibitor industry is projected to reach a value of $10.1 billion by 2025, coming from a value of $7.2 billion as of last year. This growth is driven by several industries, such as aerospace and automotive, which are constantly striving to use thinner materials. These thinner materials leave a smaller margin for error, so corrosion inhibition must be taken seriously to prevent failure. Another revenue driver for the corrosion inhibitor industry is to transition from environmentally harmful materials to less dangerous materials.