Search results

In the Spring of last year Messrs. Cotton and Potter attended a corrosion conference in Moscow. They have put down on paper some of their impressions in this article, specially written for CORROSION TECHNOLOGY. As the authors say, the opinions expressed are their own, and not necessarily widely held. We are sure, however, that readers will find this balanced account of Russian corrosion research of extreme interest and we are fortunate in having this opportunity of publishing an article from two such well‐known British corrosion research workers. Mr. Cotton is in charge of corrosion research at the Metals Division of I.C.I. Ltd., and Dr. Potter is at the Boiler Corrosion Research Laboratory of the Central Electricity Generating Board.

In Sweden, the annual wastage due to corrosion is estimated at 200 million Kronor (approximately £14 million). The economic importance of this loss was recognised at an early stage, and in 1933 the Swedish Academy of Engineering Science set up a special Anti‐Corrosion Committee concerned with the study of corrosion protection through paints, metal coatings and oiling. The work of this committee provided the background for the Swedish contributions (reported in CORROSION TECHNOLOGY of July 1954) to the Scandinavian Corrosion Conference, held in Copenhagen in May 1954. In view of the general importance of the subject of corrosion, the Swedish journal, Teknisk Tidskrift has now devoted an entire issue (No. 44, 1954) to it. As the ground is much the same as that covered by the contributions to the conference already reported in these columns, only a brief summary of the latest contributions is here given.

Corrosion monitoring techniques fall broadly into two categories: those which provide simple numeric data for control purposes, and those which offer a spectrum of information for diagnostic purposes. Corrosion monitoring can be carried out directly at locations susceptible to corrosion, or indirectly under conditions simulating susceptible but inaccessible points. The interpretation of the data can reflect the purpose of monitoring at the particular location. A consistent form of presentation, and comparative tabulation including statistical analysis can greatly facilitate correlation and trend spotting. Broad spectrum techniques may give an early indication of new problems. An effective internal corrosion monitoring programme can make a major contribution towards the control of plant operating costs.

SOLVENTS HAZARD Solvents are widely used in industrial processes and they can be harmful to their users if precautions are neglected. In fact, safety is one of the factors encouraging the use of solvent‐free coatings. The property of causing narcosis is common to most organic industrial solvents. In addition, certain solvents have a toxic property which, being slower in onset and hence usually insidious, tends to be more serious in effects. Whereas recovery following narcosis is usually complete, recovery after toxic manifestations may be incomplete, for irreversible damage to certain organs of the body may already have taken place.

At the exhibition a corrosion consultant, acting on behalf of CORROSION TECHNOLOGY, answered or gave leads on questions of all sorts concerned with corrosion and protection which were asked by visitors from this country and abroad, whose particular interests were as varied as their nationalities and modes of employment. He was, however, able to place most of the questions in common categories and to draw some kind of overall picture of the prevailing areas of interest in anti‐corrosion. The following are his comments:

The dock gate cable seen in the photograph below is submerged in sea‐water for 12 hours out of every 24. Nine years ago an inspection showed the appearance of rust on the same cable and a replacement was considered. However, it was decided to try an application of the anti‐corrosive lubricant Voler V 200 R, a graphited compound made by Revol Ltd. The cable was ‘unlocked’ and impregnated with the compound. In the nine years since, no further trouble has been experienced. Another example of the protection afforded by V 200 R in the marine field is its use on the cables of Arctic survey ships. After treatment with the compound it is claimed that the life of these cables has been quadrupled.