Q&A with corrosion industry professionals

Q&As

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“How can I determine and measure steel’s endurance limit?”

Steel's endurance limit can be measured in several ways. A polished sample — wherein potential surface initiation sites, such as machining flaws, have been removed, is tested under constant…

Answered by: Steven Bradley
Principal Consultant, Bradley Consulting Services

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“Does zinc rust?”

The short answer to the question is yes. Zinc does rust. Like all metals, zinc corrodes when exposed to air and moisture. However, this element does not rust like most other metals. Iron, for…

Answered by: Steven Bradley
Principal Consultant, Bradley Consulting Services

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“Does aluminum rust?”

We often use the term "rust" to mean corrosion, but these two terms do not mean the same thing. Distinguishing between Rust and Corrosion Rust is a coating that occurs on the surface of…

Answered by: Shivananda Prabhu

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“Are there some anti-corrosion applications in which airless spraying is a bad idea?”

Airless sprayers work by pumping high-pressure paints or coatings through a hose to the nozzle of the spray gun. As the paint is forced through the tip of the nozzle, it gets broken up (atomized)…

Answered by: Wade Hannon
Area Sales Manager, Specialty Products at GRACO Inc.

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“Why should cathodic protection and a coating be used together to protect against corrosion?”

Applying a protective coating to metallic surfaces is the most effective method to mitigate corrosion damage. According to a National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) report, more than $100…

Answered by: Mehdi Yari
Electrochemistry and Corrosion Laboratory at the University of Western Ontario

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“Are there any OSHA regulations that need to be taken into account when using thermal insulating coatings?”

Editor's note: this question was answered in The Use of Insulation Coatings for Burn Protection, a Webinar from Corrosionpedia. See more on our Webinar page. When it pertains to temperature…

Answered by: Howard Mitschke

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“With respect to CUI, how well do thermal insulating coatings retard the spread of corrosion?”

Editor’s note: this question was answered in The Use of Insulation Coatings for Burn Protection, a Webinar from Corrosionpedia. See more on our Webinar page. Thermal insulation coatings (also…

Answered by: Howard Mitschke

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“Are there CUI concerns for operating temperatures over 350 degrees F?”

Absolutely. Corrosion under insulation (CUI) can be a serious issue for pipes and process equipment covered with thermal insulation. The corrosion range has kind of been established from 100 to…

Answered by: David Shong

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“Where can I find a coating that is chloride and sulfur corrosion-resistant?”

Thank you very much for your inquiry. We get questions like this all the time, and they are far more complex than most people realize. First, to be clear, we are consultants who do this for a living.…

Answered by: Warren Brand
Owner, Chicago Corrosion Group and W Brand Consulting

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“How can you avoid flash rust during wet blasting?”

Flash rust is defined as the corrosion that occurs on the surface of a metal shortly after any wet method of surface preparation. This type of rusting typically occurs within minutes after cleaning…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“What are the different Xylan coatings and how do I decide which is best?”

Xylan is an industrial dry film lubricant consisting primarily of one or more fluoropolymers including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Figure 1), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) and fluorinated ethylene…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“Do soluble salts affect paint bonding fiberglass carbon fiber hulls?”

The short answer to this question is yes. The presence of soluble salts, particularly sulfates and chlorides, at the paint/hull interface can have detrimental effects on the integrity of the coating…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“How can companies maintain operations during COVID-19?”

In the wake of the recent COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic, many companies have been forced to close their doors as governments around the world seek to "flatten the curve." By…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“How can I boost my technical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic?”

The COVID-19 coronavirus is a worldwide concern affecting all of us, including those in the corrosion prevention and protective coatings industries. As many employees and contractors are forced to…

Answered by: John Priebe

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“How does ultrasonic technology detect pipeline corrosion and metal loss?”

Ultrasonic is a term used to describe the range of sound waves that possess frequencies higher than that of audible human hearing. Ultrasonic testing (UT), therefore, involves using these sound waves…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“How and why should I measure the strength of a protective coating?”

Modern industrial processes continue to place heavy demands on tools, equipment and structures. As a result, the protective coatings used to shield these assets must be able to maintain their…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“Should I use a polyurethane or epoxy coating on concrete?”

There is no shortage of options when it comes to concrete floor coatings, which are generally used to protect concrete floors from excessive wear and damage. Two of the most popular types of floor…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“What are the pros of non-intrusive pressure equipment inspections?”

It is essential to perform regular inspections on pressure equipment to ensure that their mechanical and structural integrity meet safety and performance standards. Traditionally, internal visual…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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“How can I convert corrosion rate between mils per year and mm/y?”

A corrosion rate conversion is a technique to change the measurement units of a given corrosion rate to another unit for comparison purposes or a specific engineering application. When converting a…

Answered by: Osvaldo Mejia
Sr. Pipeline Integrity Engineer at Petroleum Development Oman

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“Can laser scanning assess corrosion under insulation?”

Laser scanning (profilometry) is a relatively new technique used for nondestructive testing and evaluation of numerous structures. It involves using laser technology to capture the three-dimensional…

Answered by: Krystal Nanan
Civil Engineer

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Q&A With Our Experts

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Australasian Corrosion Association

Alan Kehr

Ames Kulprathipanja

Q&As

“How can I determine and measure steel’s endurance limit?”

“Does zinc rust?”

“Does aluminum rust?”

“Are there some anti-corrosion applications in which airless spraying is a bad idea?”

“Why should cathodic protection and a coating be used together to protect against corrosion?”

“Are there any OSHA regulations that need to be taken into account when using thermal insulating coatings?”

“With respect to CUI, how well do thermal insulating coatings retard the spread of corrosion?”

“Are there CUI concerns for operating temperatures over 350 degrees F?”

“Where can I find a coating that is chloride and sulfur corrosion-resistant?”

“How can you avoid flash rust during wet blasting?”

“What are the different Xylan coatings and how do I decide which is best?”

“Do soluble salts affect paint bonding fiberglass carbon fiber hulls?”

“How can companies maintain operations during COVID-19?”

“How can I boost my technical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic?”

“How does ultrasonic technology detect pipeline corrosion and metal loss?”

“How and why should I measure the strength of a protective coating?”

“Should I use a polyurethane or epoxy coating on concrete?”

“What are the pros of non-intrusive pressure equipment inspections?”

“How can I convert corrosion rate between mils per year and mm/y?”

“Can laser scanning assess corrosion under insulation?”