Case Histories

Report: U.S. State Officials Need More Clarity on Bridge Corrosion

Officials from some states told the U.S. Government Accountability Office that they use sealant on bridge decks to prevent corrosion. However, officials from another said they do not, because they do not know how effective it is.

Preventing Corrosion in Seawater-Fed Heat Exchangers

When designing a heat exchanger system, engineers must consider ways to control and mitigate the many different kinds of fouling. These control plans must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for each unique environment.

Managing MIC During Hydrotesting and Wet Parking

Laboratory testing using biofilms can provide a reliable means to evaluate the potential for microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), and subsequently, to assess the effectiveness of biocides to inhibit biofilm growth and mitigate MIC during hydrotesting and wet parking.

Identifying Pipeline Exposure via River Scour Monitoring Technology

River Scour Monitoring (RSM) systems, through the use of temperature sensing, have proven effective in detecting exposed pipe and the degree of pipeline scour. Identifying scour early on is key because once a pipeline is uncovered, it can be damaged in multiple ways. To avoid pipeline operator liability, and keep people, the environment, and related resources safe, it is important to follow applicable regulations and codes.

Interview: Corrosion Risks to Infrastructure After Wildfire Exposure

Led by Dr. Mehrooz Zamanzadeh, technical director and principal investigator at Matergenics, this roundtable discussion explores the need to conduct corrosion risk assessments of infrastructure after exposure to wildfires.

USTP Crew Coats Massive Steel Water Tank

The Lafayette tank in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, is a 7.5-million-gallon reservoir for potable water. USTP was given a rather tight timeline for such a large project. Photo courtesy of Induron.

How Ultrasonic Sensors Can Enable Permanent Corrosion Monitoring

The Belenus condition sensor utilizes an ultrasonic pulse-echo to provide in-service monitoring of pipe wall thickness. It can be fitted to structures including pipes, storage tanks, and pressure vessels.

A Water Department’s Proactive Approach to Infrastructure and Reliability

When the failure occurred, Tucson Water employees were in a hurry to figure out what their next steps would be. This article details the failure, the remedial actions, and the proactive approach they've taken since.

MP Announces Winners of 2021 Corrosion Innovation Awards

Materials Performance (MP) magazine is proud to introduce a new class of winners from the 2021 MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards program.

Extending the Service Life of a Historical Concrete Building

The repair was designed with a prediction of 100 years of service life extension. This was achieved with a steel coating and a concrete coating (barrier effect) that produced a similar or better protective effect than recorded during the evaluation.

Researchers Say Corrosion Contributed to Florida Sewage Spill

In this case study, investigators found that a buried log or root had likely affected the exterior coating on a ductile iron waste pipe. None of the inspections prior to the rupture, which spilled nearly 15 million gallons of untreated sewage, had caught the damage.

Modeling Helps Reduce Corrosion in Refineries

Corrosion can be a significant challenge for refiners in downstream operations, and one of the key factors in causing corrosion in crude distillation unit overheads is hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Influence of Organic Chloride Concentration on Carbon Steel

The chloride concentration effect in naphtha on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel was studied by simulating conditions within naphtha hydrotreating unit equipment.

X-Ray Analysis Sheds Light on Artifacts from Henry VIII's Warship

Twenty-first century x-ray technology has allowed University of Warwick scientists to peer back through time at the production of the armor worn by the crew of Henry VIII’s favored warship, the Mary Rose.

Corrosion Impact of Offshore Platforms, Structures, and Vessels

A review was carried out on the impact of corrosion on offshore platforms, vessels, and structures in the Trinidad and Tobago Atlantic Ocean environment. This article analyzes carbon steel coupons placed at different points on steel piles.