Editor’s Choice

Self-Healing Material Builds Itself from Carbon Exposure

The polymer, which might someday be used as construction or repair material or for protective coatings, continuously converts the greenhouse gas into a carbon-based material that reinforces itself, according to the researchers. This “self-healing material,” designed to mimic the absorption properties of green plants, has potential applications in a variety of construction and protective coatings projects.

New Sensing, Simulation Tools Predict Military Aircraft Corrosion

The Air Force Research Laboratory says it is developing a new environmental sensing platform and testing chamber apparatus to enable superior management of aircraft corrosion. Researchers are currently testing both devices, which they believe could help preemptively predict corrosive environmental conditions before they can cause damage to military assets.

Tank Integrity Studied at Radioactive U.S. Waste Storage Site

In the latest round of testing, investigators found that two tanks at the decommissioned Hanford nuclear production complex in Washington had spots showing significant thinning in a ring around the shell’s wall.

Underdeposit Corrosion in a Subsea Water Injection Pipeline

Underdeposit corrosion (UDC), a general term that refers to localized corrosion that develops beneath or around deposits on a metal surface, is a phenomenon that leads to pipeline failures and is one of the most damaging forms of corrosion for oil and gas pipelines. It can occur in subsea water injection pipelines, well-fluid pipelines, and large-diameter transmission lines.

Advanced Corrosion, Rust Drive Brake Pad Failures

A new study from the Global Brake Safety Council suggests the use of substandard materials and processes in automobile brake pads could be leading to accelerated failure modes. The council was formed in 2014 to advocate and raise awareness for high standards in brake safety while ensuring responsible manufacturing in the automotive industry.

Researchers Suggest New Method to Create Corrosion-Resistant Alloys

A new study suggests that a better protective oxide scale can be achieved in high-temperature Al alloys by controlling the size distribution of reactive element particles. These types of alloys are prevalent in many industrial sectors and applications.

The Humble Building Material that Shelters Millions Across the Globe

Corrugated iron has been and continues to be an invaluable building material that deserves to be taken seriously. It shows that steel can be simply and cheaply formed to a useful shape, protected from corrosion by a range of coatings, and made accessible to citizens in all corners of the globe.

Water Repellency Technology Mitigates Corrosion Under Insulation Risk

The hydrophobic WR-Tech additive leads to stone wool, mandrel-wound pipe sections with significantly less water absorption relative to industry standards; faster drying rates; and durability over a wide range of potential CUI temperatures.

Study: Microbial Corrosion Led to California Gas Leak

An investigative report into the 2015 blowout of a natural gas well near Los Angeles, California, USA, cited corroded pipe casings, safety failures by a utility, and inadequate regulations as incident causes.

Chemistry to Tame the Power of Steam

As steam is produced in a boiler, the impurities left in the feedwater concentrate and precipitate out of the solution and onto the internal surfaces of the boiler, causing fouling. This reduces both the water flow and the heat transfer, decreasing the efficiency and power of the boiler. Such fouling can accelerate corrosion of the boiler, decreasing its life.

New Method for Repairing Damaged Concrete Bridge Girders

Researchers with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota have successfully tested a new, cost-effective method for repairing damaged bridge girders that they believe can restore them to their original shear strength or even make them stronger.

Novel Phosphonate Proves Useful in Geothermal Environments

The researchers conclude that the novel phosphonate chemistry is useful in ultrahigh geothermal applications. Its high tolerance to calcium, biodegradability, thermal stability, and good performance against calcium carbonate scaling prove valuable in many environments.

Chemical Safety Board: Thermal Fatigue Led to Gas Plant Blast

In their final report, U.S. investigators say thermal fatigue in a heat exchanger likely caused a major hydrocarbons release in June 2016. This resulted in a series of fires and explosions at the Enterprise Products gas plant in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Internal Corrosion Protection Strategies for Aboveground Storage Tanks

In a CORROSION 2019 conference paper, the authors analyzed two case studies of corrosion-prone tanks using dissimilar metals and the challenges that arose in providing them with adequate cathodic protection (CP).

New Metal Alloy Materials Slow Corrosion in Process Vessels

In this case study at a U.S. oil and gas facility, a new high-velocity thermal spray cladding solution helped stop corrosion where an older nickel-copper thermal spray coating and organic patch repairs had worn away.