Corrosion of American infrastructure accounts for the loss of billions of dollars annually. A study spearheaded by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) over 10 years ago estimated the total impact of corrosion to the US economy to be more than $250 billion when various economic sectors are considered. Additional indirect costs such as lost productivity due to failures and down time, portion of overhead costs associated with corrosion related activities, could easily double this figure to over $500 billion dollars.
The sectors which are significantly affected by corrosion are the following:
- Infrastructure: Bridges, HAZMAT Storage, Transmission Pipelines, Ports
- Utilities: Power Plants, Gas Distribution, Water and Sewer Systems, Telecommunications
- Transportation: Motor Vehicles, Ships, Railroads, Aircraft, Airports
- Manufacturing: Pulp and Paper, Refineries, Mining, Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, Food Processing, Electronics, Defense
Corrosion Protection Methods
The most common methods used to control corrosion of among the facilities listed above are use of protective coatings, corrosion resistant materials, and cathodic protection.
All these measures can help extend the service life of equipment, prevent shutdowns due to premature failures and avoid contamination or loss of product. Whether it is for public safety or protection of the environment, use of proven corrosion control methods and performing the appropriate tests to verify conformance to established industry requirements are key to saving thousands and millions of dollars in maintenance and repair costs. Products ranging from hand tools to bridges must combat this phenomenon through proper design and coating protection.
Laboratory corrosion testing enables clients to evaluate new designs and coatings in a controlled environment prior to release into the real world.
Common Corrosion Testing Methods
- Salt Spray (Fog)
- Cyclic Corrosion
- Condensing Humidity
- C.A.S.S
- Fluid Resistance
- Filiform Corrosion
- Cyclic Immersion
- Corrodkote Testing
Typical Specifications
- IEC Standards
- ASTM Standards
- Military Standards
- Automotive Standards