The Corrosion Blog

The Effects of Sour Candy

2011-11-21T13:07:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Dental Association has started a campaign to combat the effects of acidic drinks and candies on tooth corrosion. They've compiled a chart of listing several popular sour candies, some of which are more acidic than battery acid. More details here.

Watching Paint Dry

2010-12-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Amazing video of paint drying under a microscope.

Washington State Issues Record Fine in Tesoro Refinery Explosion

2010-10-18T09:02:00.001-05:00

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) determined that the explosion that killed seven workers at the Tesoro petroleum refinery in Anacortes, Washington could have been prevented. L&I fined the company $2.39 million for 39 “willful” violations and five “serious” violations of state workplace safety and health regulations. This is the largest fine in the agency’s history.

A heat exchanger at the refinery ruptured around 12:30 a.m., April 2, 2010, releasing hydrocarbon vapor that then ignited. The incident occurred during maintenance on the Naphtha Hydrotreater (NHT) process unit. During routine operations involving an on-line switching of unit heat exchanger feed trains, a feed-effluent heat exchanger catastrophically failed, due to high temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA), releasing a hot, pressurized flammable hydrocarbon/hydrogen mixture. Seven workers, five men and two women, died as a result. It is the worst industrial disaster in the 37 years that L&I has been enforcing the state’s workplace safety law, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.

The heat exchangers were nearly 40 years old and were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, wide temperature and pressure swings, extensive chemical exposure and a near doubling of production over the years. These are all stresses that can damage this equipment, including causing cracking.

From Washington L&I press release.

Hoax Email - Aircraft Corrosion

2010-09-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

There is an email going around, your Corrosion Blog editor has received it, called Aircraft Corrosion. The email is discussed on the extremely useful and entertaining "fact-checking" urban legends website snopes.com here. Public awareness of the dangers of corrosion is beneficial but spreading false tales is not. If you receive this email, I suggest that you do not forward it and reply to the sender letting them know that the email is a hoax, with the link to the snopes site (or this post).

The pictures are from a simulation of an actual crash in 2007. The failure was attributed to out-of-spec structural member that ultimately failed due to fatigue cracking. The pilot was able to eject safely and suffered a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, and cuts and bruises.

There I was just flying along, enjoying the flight...

And what's so cool is they actually pay me to do this!

Hmmm... What's that strange sound? Something feels different!

Hey, why am I looking up?

Whoa here. Controls aren't working.

Time for a mirror check. ?Hey, where's the rest of my F-15?

Uh oh, it's over there.? I think I've got a definite 'Aw, hell' going on here.

I gotta wonder, am I the first guy to ever experience 'cockpit-airframe separation anxiety?'

OK, enough is enough! I'm outta' here! But first, the canopy has to go...

OK, now it's my turn. I'm gonna be gone - soon as I find that frickin' lower handle.

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

This 'incident' caused the USAF to ground its fleet of F-15's.

How about the guy who took these pictures? Just when it looks like it's going to be just another 'average day at the office'.. You never know!

What caused the mid air break up? The main "longeron" (stringer) behind the cockpit failed due to corrosion.

NTSB Says Corrosion Found on Marshall, Michigan Ruptured Pipe

2010-09-15T15:45:00.001-05:00

Close-up view of the section of pipe containing rupture

In testimony to a U.S. House of Representatives committee today, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman provided an update on the progress of the NTSB's investigation into an oil spill in Marshall, Michigan in July. Investigators found corrosion on the exterior surface of the accident pipe piece and the second pipe piece, and found surface cracks and indications of corrosion on the ruptured pipe. Government investigators estimate that between 800,000 and 1 million gallons of oil spilled as a result of the Marshall pipeline rupture.

For the full trascript of Ms. Hersman's testimony, see here.

For more information on the pipeline incident, see here.

U.S. Probes Gulf Oil Fire Involving Paint Crew

2010-09-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

Federal authorities are investigating the cause of a blaze that broke out Thursday (Sept. 2) while a 13-member painting and cleaning crew was working aboard an oil and natural-gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters planned this weekend to survey the site of Mariner Energy Inc.’s Vermilion Block 380 platform, about 100 miles off the Louisiana coast, to determine whether the platform was leaking oil.

From SSPC's PaintSquare News.

St. Louis Gateway Arch Showing Rust and Decay

2010-08-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

Almost 45 years into its reign atop the St. Louis skyline, the 630-foot monument is suffering from growing rust and decay. And nobody knows how extensive. Corrosion, some of it feared aggressive, and severe discoloration of the stainless steel skin have long been present, according to engineering reports reviewed by the Post-Dispatch. ... The problems are increasingly evident, with streaks and spots marking the upper reaches of the Arch exterior.

From stltoday.com via LinkedIn.

For more about the Gateway Arch, see here and here.

Plains All American Pipeline to Pay $44.25M for Oil Spills

2010-08-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

Cleanup in Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi;
photo courtesy of the US EPA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Justice Department announced that Plains All American Pipeline and several of its operating subsidiaries have agreed to spend approximately $41 million to upgrade 10,420 miles of crude oil pipeline operated in the United States. The settlement resolves Plains’ Clean Water Act violations for 10 crude oil spills in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and requires the company to pay a $3.25 million civil penalty

Approximately 6,510 barrels (273,420 gallons) of crude oil were discharged from various pipelines and one tank owned and operated by Plains into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Most of the spills were caused by corrosion on the pipelines.

The $3,250,000 civil penalty will be paid to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

From the EPA website.

PRCI Selects Cliff Johnson as Next President

2010-08-11T09:28:00.001-05:00

The Board of Directors of Pipeline Research Council International, Inc., (PRCI), has selected Clifford M. Johnson to be its next president. Cliff Johnson comes to PRCI from NACE International, where he has held a variety of positions during his 13-year career. His most recent position was as NACE’s Director of Public Affairs where he led several of NACE’s legislative initiatives. Mr. Johnson will succeed George W. Tenley, Jr., who is retiring at the end of the year.

The Corrosion Blog offers its most sincere congratulations to Cliff!

From the PRCI Newsroom.

Corrosion Found on Enbridge Pipeline Prior to Leak

2010-07-30T14:30:00.002-05:00

Federal regulators say earlier tests found corrosion along the pipeline that sent thousands of gallons of oil rushing into the Kalamazoo River this week and that, as recently as two weeks ago, its owner was talking about replacing pipe sections. No cause for the spill has been released, and it was not immediately known whether problems found in the earlier testing were in the area of the spill, or whether that part of the pipe was targeted for replacement.

Enbridge's Line 6B response website here.

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration corrective action order here (PDF, 322k).

National Transportation Safety Board announcement here.

From Detroit Free Press.

RAS Syndrome in Corrosion

2010-07-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

RAS syndrome stands for redundant acronym syndrome syndrome and refers to the redundant use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym or initialism with the abbreviation itself, thus in effect repeating one or more words. Usage commentators consider such redundant acronyms poor style and an error to be avoided in writing, though they are common in speech. The term "RAS syndrome" is itself a redundant acronym, and thus is an example of self-referential humor.

From Wikipedia

I can think of several terms commonly used in corrosion, including AC current or DC current, AC current attenuation, DA assessment, SCC cracks, CSE electrode, etc. Corrosion engineers are very fond of their TLAs.

Corrosion Books

2010-07-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

Looking for a book on corrosion? Here are some ways to find what you're looking for. Click on these links, then modify my search criteria to narrow down your search.

Google Books

NACE Store

ASM International (Materials Information Society) Books

Amazon Corrosion Books

Corrosion Books on the Kindle

Book Recommendations from the Corrosion Doctors

Azom (A to Z of Materials) Books

We Are All Safer

2010-07-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established by the United States Congress in 1967 to investigate and determine the causes of accidents in all modes of transportation. Since then, the Safety Board has investigated more than 110,000 aviation accidents and thousands of railroad, marine, highway, and pipeline accidents. The Board is recognized as one of the world’s premier independent accident investigation agencies
because of the expertise it has accumulated in more than three decades of experience.

This 1998 NTSB report We Are All Safer (PDF, 1.1Mb) lists NTSB-inspired improvements in transportation safety, involving aviation, railroad, marine, highway and highway bridges, pipelines, and hazardous materials transportation safety, many related to corrosion issues.

NACE International Names New Executive Director

2010-07-14T12:53:00.000-05:00

From the NACE International press release (PDF, 99k):

NACE International today named Robert (Bob) H. Chalker as its new Executive Director. Chalker has served as Managing Director & CEO of ASQ Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Society for Quality, for the past year and half. Prior to ASQ Global, Chalker served as Director, Global Development and Strategic Planning at SAE International for five years. From 1981 – 2003, Bob worked for Delphi Corporation where his most recent assignment was as Sales Director and Global Customer Manager. Bob earned his MBA at Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan) and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He and his wife Kim will be relocating to Houston, TX. They have two grown children.

NACE International, the Corrosion Society, based in Houston, Texas, has over 23,000 members in 110 countries. It is recognized worldwide as the largest professional association dedicated to protecting people, assets, and the environment from the impact of corrosion. It was founded in 1943, and offers technical training and certification programs, sponsors conferences, and produces industry standards, reports, publications, and software to prevent and mitigate corrosion.

SS Great Britain

2010-07-14T12:41:00.001-05:00

The steam ship SS Great Britain, launched in Bristol in 1843, was the first large ocean-going ship with an iron hull and a screw propeller. On her maiden voyage across the Atlantic the Great Britain easily broke the previous speed record. Although effectively a prototype, she continued sailing until 1886, and travelled thirty-two times around the world and nearly one million miles at sea. She was finally abandoned in the Falkland Islands in 1937 after more than 40 years use as a floating warehouse. In 1970 an ambitious salvage effort brought her home to Bristol where she was originally built.

Conserving the more than 160-year-old iron hull on this site [dry dock in the Great Western Dockyard, where she was built between 1839 and 1843] is exceptionally difficult as the dock was a damp environment, and moisture in the air made the process of corrosion continue quickly. Exposure to rain and moisture in the air (humidity) in Bristol allowed the ship to continue to corrode, particularly accelerated by salt infestation in the wrought iron structure.

The site has many papers relating to the corrosion mitigation efforts here.

Quoted text from SS Great Britain site. Photo by Photo by Matt Buck.

Blogging the Periodic Table

2010-07-13T14:57:00.000-05:00

Sam Kean is blogging about the periodic table on Slate Magazine in conjunction with his new book, The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Creepy Corrosion

2010-06-30T13:04:00.000-05:00

From Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by David Ross, used by permission. From an image search on Flickr.

US Department of Defense Corrosion Defense website

2010-06-28T16:04:00.003-05:00

The DoD Corrosion Defense (CorrDefense) Web Site is a state-of-the-art corrosion prevention and control information management and distribution e-portal sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics (OUSD(AT&L)), Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight. The website has been designated as one of the cornerstones in the DoD's long-term strategy for corrosion prevention and mitigation detailed in 10 U.S.C. 2228, which was enacted by the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003. CorrDefense is a free service for all individuals and organizations from Industry, Academia, and Government who have an interest in corrosion, particularly as it relates to DoD weapon systems, equipment, related commercial assets, and infrastructure.

CorrDefense.org

Nations's First B.S. Degree in Corrosion Engineering

2010-06-18T14:37:00.002-05:00

The University of Akron will launch the nation's first baccalaureate program in corrosion engineering when the fall 2010 semester begins in August. The innovative program and its potential impact on our everyday lives and the regional economy, were highlighted in this editorial by Michael Douglas , the Akron Beacon Journal editorial page editor, on Sunday, June 6, 2010.

For the entire article, see the University of Akron's newsroom here. For more information, see the UA Corrosion and Reliability Engineering homepage here.

Onshore Oil and Gas Industry Leads Industrial Maintenance Coatings Segment

2010-06-17T09:47:00.000-05:00

According to the “U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry Market Analysis (2008-2013),” which was published by The American Coatings Association (ACA) and The Chemark Consulting Group, Inc., industrial maintenance coatings accounted for approximately five percent of the volume of paint sold in the U.S. and about six percent of the total value of paint sales.

U.S. Census data revealed that total industrial maintenance shipments for 2008 were 73.3 million gallons equaling $1,225.3 million. This represents a slight decrease in volume of three percent and a one percent decrease in value over 2007.

Commercial architectural is the fastest-growing end-use segment of industrial maintenance coatings. This segment also commands the highest gross profit margins, according to the report.

From Coatings World.

Sticking Your Hand into Molten Lead

2010-06-14T15:12:00.006-05:00

Making a batch of lead anodes and accidentally stick your wet hand briefly into the casting pot? You'll probably be okay, according to the MythBusters show. The Leidenfrost effect works in this case the same way you can touch a hot iron and not get burned. The good stuff starts at around 1:55.

From kottke.org, home of fine hypertext products.

Just to be clear, I am telling you not to try this yourself.

Corrosion Concerns at U.S. Nuclear Reactors

2010-06-09T08:00:00.008-05:00

In 2002, the plant, Davis-Besse, in Oak Harbor, Ohio, developed leaks in parts on the vessel head, allowing cooling water from inside the vessel, at 2,200 pounds per square inch of pressure, to leak out.

The cooling water contains boric acid, which is used to control the speed of the nuclear reaction, and the acid ate away a chunk of the steel the size of a football, leaving nothing but a thin stainless-steel liner to maintain the reactor’s integrity.

The company assumed it had solved the problem. But recently the new vessel head showed the same leakage pattern. Once again, the parts prone to leaking are nozzles through which the control rods for the reactor pass.

From the New York Times' Green blog.

Congress must work to preserve the United States' critical infrastructure

2010-06-08T09:24:00.001-05:00

Our critical infrastructure -- from bridges to pipelines, water and sewer mains to energy generation, transmission and exploration equipment -- is in trouble. Much of this infrastructure has reached or exceeded its design life, yet we are expecting many more years of service from it. Regardless of whether it is publicly or privately owned, the common denominator in all of these infrastructure problems and, in many cases, imminent failure, is corrosion.

In a recent address, Congresswoman Betty Sutton, of the 13th District, said, "Corrosion is not a sexy topic [What? ed.]. It's not a topic that will dominate the cable news networks or garner the top headline of a major newspaper . . . until something bad happens. But it's real, and it's a major concern." No one wants to see another bridge collapse like the one in Minneapolis, whose failure was contributed to by corrosion.

From Cleveland Dealer, Letters to the Editor (Russell Schabel, Strongsville)

For more information about Congresswoman Betty Sutton's fight against corrosion, see this previous post and her site here.

MnDOT Finds Corrosion on Gusset Plates on Mississippi River Bridge

2010-06-07T18:22:00.001-05:00

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said it found corrosion in several gusset plates in the Mississippi River Bridge at Winona. Those are the same structural components that bridge's sudden close June 3, 2008. Officials are restricting weight limits until Tuesday's repairs.

From Associated Press

Under-designed and corroded gusset plates were determined to be a major cause of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. More information about that failure at Wikipedia and the NTSB's report on the failure here (PDF, 4.2M).

Attributes of a Corrosion Engineer

2010-06-03T09:42:00.007-05:00

In the NACE Resource Center, an article Attributes of a Corrosion Engineer lists some of the characteristics a corrosion engineer needs in order to be successful:

Knowledge of corrosion
Knowledge of corrosion resistant characteristics of materials
Knowledge of corrosive characteristics of chemicals
Information on physical and mechanical properties of materials
Information on availability and cost
Information on fabrication techniques
Knowledge of special requirement of what is being produced
Proficiency in planning, executing, and interpreting test programs
Ability to get along with others
Common sense

Norm Moriber’s hilarious article (PDF, 84k) "Out of the Norm" in November, 2001 issue of Materials Performance listed some more characteristics of a corrosion engineer, in the style of Jeff Foxworthy (i.e. "you might be a corrosion engineer if ...").

I've added a few to Norm's list:

You might be a corrosion engineer if you think the expression “watching paint dry” is misapplied to boring situations.

You might be a corrosion engineer if you can’t explain what you do for a living without 20 minutes, a PowerPoint presentation, a voltmeter and a reference electrode.

To the corrosion engineer, all matter in the universe can be placed into one of two categories:
(1) things that need to be protected against corrosion, and
(2) things that can be consumed to protect category 1.

To the optimist, the glass is half full.
To the pessimist, the glass is half empty.
To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
To the corrosion engineer, it needs more copper sulfate crystals.

You might be a corrosion engineer if ...

in college you thought Spring Break could have been an environmentally-assisted cracking failure.
you can type 70 words per minute with two fingers but can't read your own handwriting.
you see a good design and still have to change it.
you spent more on your calculator than you did on your wedding ring.
you still own an analog multi-meter larger than a television set and know how to use it.
you window shop at Radio Shack
people groan at the party when you pick out the music.
your hot water heater will last longer than you expect to live.
you've already calculated how much you make per second.
your idea of good interpersonal communication means getting the decimal point in the right place.
you have used coat hangers and duct tape for something other than hanging coats and taping ducts.
you own one or more white short-sleeve dress shirts. With a pocket. And you wear them with ties. For extra credit: with clip-on ties.
you have a habit of destroying things in order to see how they work.
you can remember the galvanic series potentials of forty different metals but not your anniversary.
you take a cruise so you can go on a personal tour of the engine room. You make maintenance suggestions.
you are offended by any of these jokes. Extra credit if you write a scathing letter to the editor. Double points if written on a typewriter.
you write a follow-up to an MP article published nine years ago.

Chinese Scientists Say Cigarette Butts Protect Steel From Corrosion

2010-05-26T13:15:00.004-05:00

Researchers found that extracts of cigarette butt water could substantially protect N80 type steel from corroding when in hydrochloric acid at 90 degrees Celsius (194 degrees F). That type of steel is often used to make drill rods, which costs oil producers millions of dollars annually when they corrode.

From Cybercast News Service.

More information in the American Chemical Society's periodical Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research.

Corrosion Blog Maintenance

2010-05-09T00:00:00.005-05:00

If you have received errors finding The Corrosion Blog at corrosionblog.com or at thecorrosionblog.blogspot.com in the last few days, I am sorry for the inconvenience. The site has been migrating to Blogger's (Google's) servers and there is some delay in submitting the changes to DNS servers and the servers updating the new location. Feel free to email me at editor@corrosionblog.com if you are having any difficulties. In the interim, the address http://www.corrosionblog.com/ should be working.

FAQ: The Science and History of Oil Spills

2010-04-27T08:00:00.004-05:00

Interesting information about oil spills in a FAQ format at livescience.com.

Opposing Group Says Nuclear Reactor Design Has Corrosion Risks

2010-04-26T13:16:00.004-05:00

An anti-nuclear coalition says design flaws in Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor could allow radiation leaks during an accident, and it is calling on federal authorities to suspend licensing and loan guarantees for plants that use it.

The AP1000 Oversight Group (PDF, 12k), made up of 11 environmental organizations, released a report (PDF, 4.46M) Wednesday detailing what it calls a serious safety issue that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not addressed on the AP1000 reactor.

The report contends Westinghouse designed the reactor without a corrosion-proof backup to protect against leaks from the containment vessel. In a reactor accident, the reactor’s safety systems would allow any radioactive material that had leaked over time to be released into the air and spread to nearby populated areas, the group contends.

From the Charlotte Business Journal (links added).

PHMSA Cased Pipe Workshop – April 28, 2010 - Baltimore, MD

2010-04-08T16:15:00.005-05:00

PHMSA is holding a Workshop on the newly developed Guidelines for Integrity Assessment of Cased Pipe (PDF, 752k) at the Sheraton Inner Harbor, 300 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD on April 28, 2010. The workshop focus will be for the public, pipeline operators, trade associations, and others to address ideas and concerns with successfully using External Corrosion Direct Assessment integrity evaluation methods and use of other technologies to assess pipelines in casings located within High Consequence Areas. The workshop is intended to discuss the PHMSA guidance "Guidelines for Integrity Assessment of Cased Pipe in Gas Transmission Pipelines" and related FAQs. The latest guidelines and FAQs are available online here.

More information on the workshop here. Register for free here.

See previous posts on casings and ECDA here and here.

Flash Rust

2010-04-06T13:44:00.005-05:00

The SSPC/JPCL are sponsoring a free webinar on Applying Coatings over Flash Rust in a Marine Environment here. The webinar will be presented by Pete Ault of Elzly Technologies and will describe a study in which coatings were applied over varying degrees of flash rust and then inspected periodically for 6 years. The performance of coatings over light, moderate, and heavy flash rust will be presented and discussed.

Participation in the webinar is free, but for those who wish to receive continuing education credits from SSPC, a test is available after the webinar. Cost of the test service is $25. All participants, however, will receive a free certificate of completion.

Some examples of flash rust here. Flash rust can be a problem with ultra-high pressure water blasting but also with other surface preparation methods, such as sand blasting with salt contamination (such as in a marine environment).

The Corrosive Properties of Coca-Cola

2010-04-01T12:38:00.005-05:00

1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.
3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl . . . Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean.
4. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
5. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
6. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
7. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
8. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan; wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
9. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FYI:
1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It's pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.
2. To carry Coca Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly Corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years! Drink up! No joke. Think what coke and other soft drinks do to your teeth on a daily basis. A tooth will dissolve in a cup of coke in 24-48 hours.

For more discussion, see here.

p.s. Today is the first day in April

Alyeska tests clamp to repair bullet holes

2010-02-27T14:55:00.006-06:00

From Energy Pipeline News:

ANCHORAGE - Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. is planning a field exercise this year to test a hydraulically powered clamp designed to stop oil from spewing out of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline through a bullet hole. The bullet-hole exercise is planned for a site at the Chatanika River. A test piece of 48-inch mainline pipe will be placed at the scene and pressurized with water to simulate a high-pressure oil spray through a bullet hole, an exercise description says.

From Wikipedia:

On October 4, 2001, a drunken gunman named Daniel Carson Lewis shot a hole into a weld near Livengood, causing the second-largest mainline oil spill in pipeline history. Approximately 258,000 US gallons (980 m3) leaked from the pipeline; 178,000 US gallons (670 m3) were recovered and reinjected into the pipeline. Nearly 2 acres (8,100 m2) of tundra were soiled and were removed in the cleanup. The pipeline was repaired and was restarted more than 60 hours later. Lewis was found guilty in December 2002 of criminal mischief, assault, drunken driving, oil pollution, and misconduct. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail and ordered to repay the $17 million cleanup costs.

Photo from BBC.

Assessing the need for CO2 pipelines

2010-02-09T14:20:00.004-06:00

A recent study commissioned by the INGAA Foundation focused on the pipeline infrastructure requirements for carbon capture and sequestration in connection with compliance with mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The major conclusion of the study was that, while CCS technologies are relatively well defined, there remain technological challenges in the carbon capture and sequestration phases. There are fewer technological challenges in connection with the transportation of captured carbon. The study forecasts that between 15,000 and 66,000 miles will be needed by 2030.

From pipelineandgastechnology.com.

Shale Gas

2010-02-04T17:58:00.004-06:00

Interesting video explaining the process of shale exploration here.

Shale gas has become an increasingly more important source of natural gas in the United States over the past decade. ... Although shale gas has been produced for more than 100 years in the Appalachian Basin and the Illinois Basin of the United States, the wells were often economically marginal. Higher natural gas prices in recent years and advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal completions have made shale gas wells more profitable. Shale gas tends to cost more to produce than gas from conventional wells, because of the expense of massive hydraulic fracturing treatments required to produce shale gas, and of horizontal drilling. However, this is often offset by the low risk of shale gas wells.

From Wikipedia.

PRCI and NACE Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

2010-01-15T14:35:00.006-06:00

Building further on a long-standing relationship between PRCI (Pipeline Research Council, Inc.) and NACE International, the two organizations have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster activities that will serve their common interests in developing and disseminating technical information related to corrosion on energy pipelines. THE MOU also provides a framework for working cooperatively to advance these goals for the mutual benefit of their memberships. The MOU formalizes this important relationship with one of the primary standards development organizations that utilizes and applies PRCI's corrosion research results in developing the standards for integrity management of pipeline systems.

From the PRCI Newsletter Throughput Volume 4, Issue 1

Hoax Email - Dial Before You Dig

2010-01-14T08:34:00.006-06:00

There is an email going around, your Corrosion Blog editor has received it three times now, called Dial Before You Dig. The email is now discussed on the extremely useful and entertaining "fact-checking" urban legends website snopes.com here. Public awareness of the dangers of third-party damage to pipelines is beneficial but spreading false tales is not. If you receive this email, I suggest that you do not forward it and reply to the sender letting them know that the email is a hoax, with the link to the snopes site (or this post).

The email contains a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow named Dial_Before_You_Dig.pps.

Dial Before You Dig
This happened in America. It’s a good reason why you should dial before you dig…… The following pictures are a result of a worker on a farm using a post hole digger - he hit an underground, high-pressure gas main. He took out 2 homes, associated sheds and vehicles. They never found the man.

The remainder of the slideshow is pictures showing the devastation of a pipeline explosion. The pictures are from an actual pipeline explosion that happened in "America", but not as the result of a man with a post hole digger. The photographs are actually from a natural gas transmission failure near Appomattox, Virginia in September 2008 caused by external corrosion. There were some minor injuries but fortunately no one was killed.

Corrosion Results in Electrocution on Navy Ship

2010-01-11T15:40:00.009-06:00

The Navy has ordered the inspection all electrical enclosures aboard every ship in its fleet after the Nov. 28 electrocution of a sailor aboard the Rentz, a San Diego-based frigate currently deployed in the Persian Gulf. The order — issued jointly by the Virginia-based Naval Sea Systems and the San Diego-based Naval Surface Forces commands — suggests that hidden corrosion on a hinge attached to an electrical enclosure may have played a role.

From The San Diego Union-Tribune. Also, see the Navy Times.

Plans on Schedule for First New Refinery in U.S. since 1970's

2010-01-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

From Energy Pipeline News:

The US currently has 150 existing refineries, 141 operating with nine idle. Hyperion Resources began construction of the nation's first new oil refinery since 1976 on 3,800 acres of farmland near Elk Point, South Dakota.

The Dallas-based developers say that they plan to get shovels into the ground in 2011, and that Hyperion will be refining Canadian tar sands crude into gasoline and diesel by 2015.

Opposition groups such as Save Union County and the Sierra Club plan to ask the Environmental Protection Agency to step in and review concerns about air permits.

CP and the World's Tallest Building

2010-01-07T08:00:00.002-06:00

Burj Khalifa (formerly known as Burj Dubai), the recently opened skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m (2,717 ft).

The superstructure is supported by a large reinforced concrete mat, which is in turn supported by bored reinforced concrete piles. The design was based on extensive geotechnical and seismic studies. The mat is 3.7 meters thick, and was constructed in four separate pours totaling 12,500 cubic meters of concrete. The 1.5 meter diameter x 43 meter long piles represent the largest and longest piles conventionally available in the region. A high density, low permeability concrete was used in the foundations, as well as a cathodic protection system under the mat, to minimize any detrimental effects form corrosive chemicals in local ground water.

From the Burj Khalifa website.

Bridge Closed Permanently Because of Extensive Corrosion

2010-01-06T14:44:00.003-06:00

The Cline Avenue bridge (in northwest Indiana) from Calumet Avenue in Hammond to Michigan Avenue in East Chicago that's been shut down since last month will remain closed permanently. The Indiana Department of Transportation announced today that the Cline Avenue bridge will not be repaired or re-built.

From ABC 7 News Chicago.

See here for original blog post on The Corrosion Blog.

The Case of the Failing Floor Coating

2009-12-31T11:15:00.004-06:00

Interesting article about the failure analysis of a concrete floor coating. Who Reads Instructions Anyway? The Case of the Failing Floor Coating (PDF) from the Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings.

Spoiler alert (highlight next paragraph to see results):
It was improper mixing of the polyurethane topcoat.

ECDA For Cased Pipelines

2009-12-30T12:58:00.005-06:00

From Pipeline and Gas Journal article "Mears Hosts Workshop On ECDA For Cased Pipelines":

Fifty-six integrity representatives from pipeline and gas utility companies across North America attended the day-long event at Mears headquarters in Rosebush, MI. Speakers included Max Kieba, Central Engineer, Office of Pipeline Safety, who gave directions to attendees on the upcoming PHMSA cased-pipe guidelines. Demonstrations included field indirect and direct inspections of coated and uncoated cased pipe, and a demonstration of wax filling a casing by Royston.

Casings are a common historical practice to prevent overburden stresses and mechanical damage to pipelines, typically at crossings, but they cause some unique problems with cathodic protection and corrosion surveys. Uncased crossings are usually preferable to cased crossings from a corrosion point-of-view. The NACE Standard SP0200 "Steel-Cased Pipeline Practices" (PDF, 833k, free to NACE members $35 for non-members) says:

1.2 Use of cased crossings should be avoided unless required by load considerations, unstable soil conditions, or when their use is dictated by sound engineering practices.

The issue has become critical in the gas transmission industry with the requirements of the Gas IMP rule and the limitations of performing ECDA on cased crossings. There was a PHMSA public meeting in July 2008 to address all the issues of cased crossings. There is more information on the PHMSA meeting website. In particular, this presentation from a liquid operator gives an overall perspective on the issues of casings.

The author also recently participated in an article in the March 2009 Pipeline and Gas Journal titled "Protecting Pipelines At Crossings: Are Casings Obsolete?".

Also, see previous post on the Pipeline Cased Crossings Casing Quality Action Team (CASQAT) here.

Current and Future Corrosion Challenges

2009-12-14T15:11:00.004-06:00

The chemical, refinery, and petrochemical industries are facing new challenges in order to develop more environment friendly processes and to manufacture "green" products. Corrosion management is an essential element for the development of a sustainable industrial society, including issues such as the selection and development of corrosion resistant materials, coatings, and environmentally friendly inhibitors.

From MaterialsViews.com.

Deadline Approaching for CORROSION 2010 Scholarships

2009-12-14T15:00:00.001-06:00

Preparing the New Generation of Corrosion Professionals

Scholarship application deadline

January 1, 2010

NACE Foundation to give $40,000 in scholarships
and travel assistance at CORROSION 2010

Submit your scholarship application by January 1, 2010

Through the generous support of NACE Sections and Areas, individual members, and corporate partners, the NACE Foundation will distribute the following scholarships, awards, and travel assistance at CORROSION 2010.

Scholarships

$1,000 Melvin C. Miller Scholarship-New for 2010
$5,000 NACE Foundation Academic Scholarship
$1,000 NACE Foundation Book Scholarships (graduate)-two available
$6,100 Hans Schmoldt Scholarship in Cathodic Protection on behalf of the Schmoldt Foundation for Education
$3,000 Academic Scholarship on behalf of the NACE Eastern Area
$1,000 Academic Scholarship on behalf of the NACE Sandia Mountain Section
$1,000 Melvin J. Schiff Fellowship Fund on behalf of the NACE Los Angeles Section
$10,000 MTI-Bert Krisher Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 Liberty Bell Academic Scholarship on behalf of the NACE Philadelphia Section

Travel Assistance

$10,000 in travel assistance to the NACE Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, USA has been allocated to assist NACE Foundation scholarship recipients and university students participating in the Student Poster Session at CORROSION 2010.

Apply today!

Applications for scholarships are due January 1, 2010, and applications for Travel Assistance are due February 1, 2010. Visit the NACE Foundation's web site at www.nace-foundation.org for a complete list of available scholarships and eligibility requirements.

Learn the latest on distribution integrity management plans (DIMP)

2009-12-10T08:00:00.002-06:00

As part of Pipeline Integrity Month
in January 2010, NACE International is bringing the Data and Integrity Management Workshop to Houston. This half day event will cover topics on external corrosion direct assessment (ECDA) and data integration management plans.

The Data and Integrity Management Workshop is being held in conjunction with PIMS Houston 2010: Investigating the 80% Rule. The combined events allow you to save on travel costs while learning how to reduce the risk of corrosion and other defects impacting pipeline integrity and safety in one location.

With registration to the Data & Integrity Management Workshop the Pipeline Integrity Web Series in January 2010 is FREE (a $200 value).

Technical Program Highlights:

- Integrated Engineering with Guided Wave and Other
Advanced Assessment Techniques

- Quality Data Collection Recognition

- ECDA: Direct Examination - Data Collection
During Excavations

- ECDA and Data Integration

- Gas Distribution Integrity Management Plan (DIMP)

- Cased Crossing Monitoring and Criteria

When:
January 25, 2009

Time:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Where:
JW Marriott Houston
5150 Westheimer
Houston, Texas 77056

Quick Links:

Travel

Hotel

Events

Event Sponsor:

Register Today!

Register by January 5th and save $75!

Massive Oil Spill Results in Improved Wildlife Viscosity

2009-12-09T09:29:00.002-06:00

More here.

ASM, ASTM and NACE launch Corrosion Solutions Center

2009-12-02T10:07:00.005-06:00

Corrosion Solutions Center is the world's most comprehensive and authoritative resource for researching, understanding, preventing, and solving corrosion-related problems.

This robust product is brought to you by a partnership between the leading corrosion engineering society, NACE International, the leading materials information society, ASM International and one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, ASTM International. Corrosion Solutions Center allows us to bring more value to you, eliminating the need for multiple site-searches.

By partnering and bringing together content from each organization, we're able to provide a single resource for corrosion-related materials information including:

Journal articles - content from leading materials industry journals, including Corrosion journal
Book chapters- articles from the most relevant technical books
Handbook articles - articles from the ASM Handbook collection
Standards - NACE International standards covering subjects such as laboratory corrosion testing, corrosion prevention and blast cleaning
Magazine articles – ASM's Advanced Materials & Processes and NACE's Materials Performance magazine articles
Conference Papers – papers from leading industry conferences
Technical Papers – white papers and reports from government and industry research

http://content.asminternational.org/portal/site/corrosioncenter/

Corrosion Solutions provides authoritative, peer-reviewed information from leading organizations serving the materials performance community.

University of Utah General Chemistry lecture on Corrosion

2009-11-30T08:00:00.004-06:00

2009-11-27T08:00:00.004-06:00

At the recent PGMSC conference held by Plymouth Tube Co., owner of a Metals and Materials Consulting Engineers, explains various methods which will help metals achieve corrosion resistance.

Corrosion-Resistant Turkey

2009-11-26T08:00:00.003-06:00

This steel turkey weathervane is zinc plated and then powder coated with a satin black top coat and baked on in an oven. Happy Thanksgiving!

Preventing Corrosion in Dissimilar Water Pipes by Electrical Isolation

2009-11-25T08:00:00.002-06:00

Connecting copper and galvanized water pipes can cause corrosion due to dissimilar metals, or galvanic corrosion. A solution is to use a fitting called a dielectric nipple (bottom photo). A plastic liner (3 in. long) inside the fitting increases the resistance between the pipes and reduces the corrosion rate.

From The Family Handyman.

Preventing corrosion on buses by treating wash water

2009-11-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

To save expensive low-floor buses from corrosion, the Delhi Transport department is going to install reverse osmosis (RO) plants for washing the new buses with treated water. Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said the water used for cleaning the low-floor buses in DTC depots is hard and saline and it causes corrosion. Therefore, the Government has decided to install RO plants at depots. RO plants remove salts and other impurities and improve water quality. To cleaning one bus, approximately 25 gallons of water is needed. At present, the DTC uses re-cycled water for washing its fleet of 3,200 buses.

From the New Delhi Pioneer.

Bridge inspection prompts closure due to corrosion

2009-11-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Indiana Department of Transportation closed the Cline Avenue bridge in East Chicago due to corrosion found on a bridge inspection. Cline carries almost 36,000 vehicles a day at that spot. An inspection found the combination of the region's weather, air pollution and extensive use of road salt hastened the corrosion. In July 2008, an Indiana Associated Press review of structurally deficient bridges in the state named Cline Avenue over the Indiana Harbor canal -- the same spot were the worst corrosion has been found.

The photo shows a portion of the Cline Avenue Bridge that collapsed during construction, as the concrete deck was being placed on one span. See the Wikipedia page for the Cline Bridge here.

The bridge on Indiana 912 (Cline Avenue) is closed to all traffic between U.S. 41 (Calumet Avenue) in Hammond and Michigan Avenue in East Chicago.

From the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana.

Corrosion to blame for LA water pipeline ruptures

2009-11-20T14:31:00.006-06:00

A panel of experts reported Tuesday that corrosion was to blame for an increase in water pipeline failures. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power released a report developed by experts from the University of Southern California, Cornell University and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory which blamed the breaks on corroded portions of the aging system. See the full report here (PDF, 215k).

The city has seen a spate of major water breaks this year, several highly publicized ruptures, including one in Valley Village that opened a sinkhole that engulfed a firetruck. DWP officials said the panel determined that the city's conservation program, which limits lawn watering to Mondays and Thursdays, was not to blame for the pipeline problems. Some experts had theorized that the watering restrictions overburdened the system on the allowed days and may have contributed to the breaks.

From Contra Costa Times and NACEtweet.

IFMA Names Tony Keane President and CEO

2009-11-20T09:21:00.005-06:00

The International Facility Management Association, headquartered in Houston, announced the appointment of Anthony "Tony" J. Keane as IFMA’s new president and CEO effective Jan. 18, 2010. His appointment will coincide with the retirement of current IFMA president and CEO David J. Brady. Keane served for four years as executive director of NACE International. From IFMA's website. NACE's announcement of Keane's resignation here. Del Doyle, P.E., NACE Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, will be the Interim Executive Director while the NACE Board of Directors conducts a global search for a permanent replacement. The Board Search Committee chaired by past president Dr. Louis D. Vincent is being organized, and the search will begin immediately.

Corrosion of Navy Ship Exibition Models

2009-11-11T14:47:00.007-06:00

The Curator of Navy Ship Models reports here:

In the ship modeling community there has been considerable speculation about what causes lead to corrode severely, how to arrest the process in pieces already installed, and how to prevent corrosion in the future.

The conclusion of the report is that outgassing from wood display cases (particularly hardwoods) creates a corrosive atmosphere to lead in sealed cases. More discussion here.

Gold Protects Astronauts from Radiation

2009-11-10T08:00:00.002-06:00

The $1.5 billion Hubble telescope has been protected by gold coatings to provide corrosion resistance and electrical connections. Nearly 41Kg of gold was used in the construction of the US Columbia space shuttle, especially in brazing alloys, fuel cell fabrication, for coated plastic films or in electrical contacts.

If you thought NASA projects were gold-plated, now you have your proof here.

Corrosion-Resistant Materials Solution for Salt Mines

2009-11-09T15:46:00.005-06:00

Morton Salt has giant salt mines 40 miles west of Salt Lake City. They had been using aluminum fenders on their T900 Kenworth Trucks for years and were consistently disappointed. The aluminum fender could not withstand the cold, heat and corrosive environment of the Utah salt mines.

For more info, see here.

Corrosion and Subway Trains

2009-11-05T16:55:00.003-06:00

A report commissioned by the Metro Boston Transit Authority (MTBA) raises safety concerns about dozens of delayed maintenance projects at the MBTA that have been deemed critical to public safety. The report states that corrosion and damage on the tracks between the Alewife and Harvard Square stations could lead to a train derailment.

From boston.com.

Russian military plane crashes

2009-11-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

Russian heavy-lift military cargo plane crashed on takeoff Sunday in Siberia, killing all 11 crew members on board, officials said. More from the Associated Press here. Earlier this year, the Russian air force announced that it had grounded its fleet of Mig-29 fighter jets and had to carry out costly repairs to make them safe to fly. The move followed a crash in December that occurred when a plane lost part of it tail section. Officials said the accident had been caused by corrosion.

More about aircraft corrosion here and here.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2009-11-02T12:50:00.002-06:00

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at Mercedes-Benz blog.

Um, it has the word corrosion in it.

How to Check a Car Battery for Corrosion

2009-11-02T08:36:00.002-06:00

Corrosion and Bridges

2009-10-30T09:48:00.005-05:00

Wikipedia has a list of bridge failures here, many of them caused by corrosion. One of the most well-known bridge failures is the Silver Bridge, between Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Kanauga, Ohio, that failed in 1967 and inspired the book Mothman Prophecies and the film of the same name. On Tuesday two tension rods and a crossbeam from a recently installed repair collapsed during the evening commute, causing the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge to be closed. The cause is not yet known. More information here.

EDIT: Bay Bridge re-opens.

Retired NTSB investigator Charles Batten dead at 72

2009-10-29T12:44:00.004-05:00

Charles Hershel Batten, 72, died at his residence in the Lake of the Woods community, Locust Grove, Va., on Oct. 24, 2009.

from Energy Pipeline News

Corrosion in the House that Ruth Built?

2009-10-27T13:46:00.003-05:00

Will the new $1.5B Yankee Statium explode¹ due to corrosion problems? Read more here.

¹ No.

Cathodic Protection in Your Home

2009-10-26T16:16:00.003-05:00

Every month tens of thousands of hot water tanks burst prematurely due to corrosion causing severe water damage to property both indoors and outdoors, yet this can easily be avoided. There is one simple thing you can do NOW to protect your hot water tank from the destructive effects of corrosion on your tank. Following a schedule of timely replacement of the sacrificial anode in your hot water tank will double, or even triple, its life.

See here for full article.

[Editor's note: Here is the online parts list for The Official Corrosion Blog Water Heater (er, the one at my house). It has a six year warranty. Coincidently it is about five and a half years old, it was installed when I bought my house (The Official Corrosion Blog House) in March 2004. The anode rod is part number 7, and screws into the top of the heater. A new anode only costs $25.99, and probably will extend the life of my heater by another 6 years or so. A new heater of this size costs around $400. I just ordered a new anode. I'll post pictures when I swap the old one out.]

What does WD-40 Stand For?

2009-10-23T13:37:00.004-05:00

WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion-a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try.

From wd40.com.

[Editor's note: WD-40 prevents corrosion by eliminating one of the four components required for a corrosion cell, the electrolyte, by displacing the water]

Many uses of WD-40 here.

Many of the many uses rebutted on snopes.com.

PHMSA Approves Kinder Morgan's Alternative MAOP

2009-10-16T11:20:00.004-05:00

Pipeline transportation and energy storage company Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP said on Oct. 8 that it has received authorization from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to increase the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) on selected segments of three major natural gas pipelines that it operates from 72 to 80 percent of design.

See full story at Energy Pipeline News here.

NACE is conducting a seminar on alternative MAOP in Houston, Texas in January 2010. More information on the event "Pipeline Integrity Management Seminar: Investigating the 80% Rule" can be found on NACE's website here.

The final rule can be found here. PHMSA has a frequently-asked questions page regarding the new rule here.

Corrosion of World Monuments

2009-10-15T10:03:00.004-05:00

The World Monuments Fund announced the 2010 World Monuments Watch, a list of 93 sites in 43 countries termed “at risk.” The list includes nine sites in the U.S. and 15 dating from the 20th century. One of the sites is the Gothic Revival, an all-steel basilica of San Sebastian in Manila. After earthquakes in 1645, 1762, and 1863 destroyed the first three stone and brick churches erected on this site, the Spanish Insular government recommended a new church be built of steel. Since its completion in 1891, San Sebastian has continued to play a significant religious and social role as the community parish and through its involvement in outreach programs. The innovative steel construction remains unique and reflects the daringness of the design and the skill of local craftsmen. Persistent corrosion, leaks, and material loss threaten the Basilica, but its most pervasive threat remains invisible: the structural bracing within cavity walls is severely deteriorating, potentially rendering the stability and continued functionality of San Sebastian precarious.

Extending the Life of a Highway Bridge by Corrosion Control

2009-10-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

Galvanic cathodic protection used to extend the life of a highway bridge in Oregon here.

At one time the state had planned to replace the bridge with a wider bridge, but the cost of a new bridge expanded to nearly $10 million from an initial estimate of $1.8 million because of environmental concerns with the creek it crosses. The cost of the reconstruction of the existing bridge is estimated at about $1 million.

Joint corrosion terminology standard developed by ASTM International and NACE International

2009-10-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

A joint corrosion terminology standard has been developed by ASTM International and NACE International. The new standard is NACE/ASTM G193, Terminology and Acronyms Relating to Corrosion.

“The new NACE/ASTM joint terminology standard will be used by not only ASTM and NACE, but also by other corrosion organizations worldwide to prevent confusion in corrosion testing and in the interpretation of corrosion standards,” says Harvey Hack, senior advisory engineer, Northrop Grumman Corp., Undersea Systems, and chair of J01.02.

TO download the standard from nace.org, click here. (PDF, NACE Member Price: $0.00, Non-Member Price: $42.00)

From ASTM's Twitter site.

Elemental Corrosion

2009-10-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

Honda Element owner complains of filiform corrosion on wheels. See more information about filiform corrosion here.

A wee bit of corrosion

2009-10-06T14:54:00.001-05:00

A wee bit of corrosion.

160 Days and Counting Till the World’s Largest Corrosion Conference!

2009-10-06T08:31:00.001-05:00

The numbers don't lie!
The excitement is building about
CORROSION 2010

The exhibit hall is already over 80% sold
A record setting 748 abstracts were
submitted during the conference call for papers
Over 850 hours of symposia, forums, tutorials/workshops, and technical meetings
Over 20 different networking events throughout the week
Over 350 exhibiting companies featuring products, and services specifically for your corrosion needs

Join over 5,000 corrosion professionals from around the world for the world's largest corrosion conference in San Antonio, Texas on March 14-18, 2010 at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.

Reserve your
hotel today!

Book your room from the 15 beautiful hotels located along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk,
near the historic Alamo, or within walking distance of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.

Click here for information on reserving your hotel today.

Register Today

What's new for 2010?

Customize your conference

Build your personal schedule with
My Itinerary to stay informed on the 500+ papers, 350 technical committee meetings, and 20+ events at CORROSION 2010.

CORROSION 2010: Deep in the heart of Texas!

San Antonio's old world Spanish flair and blend of cultures make it one of America's most picturesque cities. It is the seventh largest city in the U.S. and one of the most visited destinations in Texas.

While in San Antonio visit the historic Alamo, walk the popular Riverwalk, or taste delicious Tex-Mex food that can be found on almost every street corner.

Click here for more information on San Antonio's history, attractions, and restaurants.

Thank you to our CORROSION 2010 sponsors:

Bayou to Purchase Canadian Pipe Coating Plant

2009-10-05T11:15:00.001-05:00

The Bayou Companies, Inc. (Bayou), a subsidiary of Insituform Technologies, Inc., who also recently aquired Corrpro Companies, announced an agreement to acquire Garneau's pipe coating and insulation facility and associated assets in Camrose, Alberta, Canada. For more information, see here.

From PaintSquare News.

2009 Department of Defense Corrosion Conference

2009-09-28T18:17:00.001-05:00

U.S. Representative Betty Sutton (D, Ohio) provided the keynote speech at the 2009 Department of Defense Corrosion Conference banquet. The five-day Corrosion Conference commenced at the Gaylord National Hotel near Washington DC on August 10. See photos on Congresswoman Sutton's site here.

Participating in NACE Technical Committees

2009-09-24T23:33:00.001-05:00

Thursday marked the end of NACE's Corrosion Technology Week 2009 (CTW/2009). This event, previously called Fall Committee Work Week, now includes other activities such as exhibits, training, and seminars, but the main focus is still technical committees.

There are several types of technical committees, but their raison d'etre is to share information about corrosion. Committees can meet to develop standards and publications, or to sponsor symposia and technical exchanges. Task Groups (TGs) develop some form of document, such as a standard (Standard Practice [SP], Test Method [TM], or Material Requirement[MR]) or a technical committee report. Technical Exchange Groups (TEGs) sponsor technical information exchange (TIE) or sponsor symposia at Annual Conference. Participation in technical committees can be done at several levels.

Spectator
Anyone can stay up-to-date on committee activities by visiting the new pulic face to NACE technical committees. Click here to see the list of Specific Technology Groups (STGs) that organize the NACE technical committees by industry or topic. Find an STG of interest, and then drill down to see the active committees within that STG. By periodically reviewing the website of committees of interest, you can stay abreast of standards development and information in new NACE publications. Standards and publications represent consensus industry practices. Industry standards share best practices with others, incorporating expertise and experience from a broad group. Industry standards can increase safety, provide more effective methods and procedures, and reduce costs by more efficient methods and by eliminating duplication of effort in company specifications.

For a list of new standards published in 2009, click here.

Participant
The members of an STG are the voting pool for draft publications and standards. By joining a STG, you will have the opportunity to vote and comment on all new documents proposed by the technical committees that are part of the STG. STG membership is open to all NACE members, just click here (requires NACE login) to join the STGs that are of interest to you. Other ways of participating include attending the annual conference (next is Corrosion/2010 March 14-018 2010 in San Antonio, Texas) or attending Corrosion Technology Week (next is CTW/2010 September 19-24, 2010 in Orlando, Florida). Committee meetings of all kinds are open to conference attendees, and there are many symposia, technical information exchanges, and other activities. Following the conferences, you can download conference papers, minutes, and drafts of publications from the NACE website.

Active Participant
To become an active participant, join a technical committee or author a symposium paper. Committee members work on developing publications or sponsoring technical exchanges and symposia. Authors of technical papers will have their paper published by NACE, and present the results of their papers at the technical symposia at the annual conference. Each symposium needs reviewers to review the content of technical papers and presentations, and ensure that they meet the NACE style requirements.

Leader
There are opportunities for leadership at many levels in technical committees. Task groups, technical exchange groups and symposia each have a chair and vice-chair responsible for ensuring the committees follow the NACE guidelines. STGs manage and guide the technical committees that fall within their topic or industry, and each STG has a chair and a vice-chair. Finally, the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) has a number of positions that oversee all of the STGs.

I encourage you to participate in NACE technical committees, the benefits are many, and you can tailor the level of participation to suit your needs.

NACE Standard SP0169

2009-09-22T10:00:00.001-05:00

NACE SP0169-2007 (formerly RP0169) "Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems", defines cathodic protection criteria and establishes other standards for controlling external corrosion that are used on pipelines around the world. NACE task group TG 360 is charged with the revision to SP0169 and distributed a draft for ballot that closed September 1st. The committee is scheduled to meet at NACE Corrosion Technology Week Tuesday (today) from 9AM to 5PM to review the results of the ballot. See the meeting agenda here. For more information on the ballot process for TG 360, see here.

The present standard is available from the NACE store here (PDF download, free for members, $42.00 for non-members).

The results of the ballot are available here (requires NACE member log-in). You can download the draft for ballot here (PDF, 620k, requires NACE member log-in).

You can find more informatino about SP0169 at The SP0169 Blog (not affiliated with NACE or The Corrosion Blog).

Investigating Corrosion Protection of Offshore Wind Towers

2009-09-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

An interesting article about the possible future of power here. Offshore windfarms bring a number of unique corrosion problems.

In this article (PDF, 1.5M), Investigating Corrosion Protection of Offshore Wind Towers, the authors report on testing the coating performance on offshore wind towers. This is part two of a three-part series.

From JPCL (The Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings)

NY Times article from NACEtweet.

CTW 2009 Starts Sunday

2009-09-18T10:38:00.001-05:00

CTW night with the
Houston Astros

Wednesday, September 23

7:05 p.m.

As a benefit for attending CTW 2009 NACE International is proud to offer CTW attendees discount tickets to the Houston Astros vs. the St. Louis Cardinals game.

To purchase tickets log on to www.astros.com/nace and enter password nace.

Prices:

Field Boxes-$22
Bullpen Boxes-$15
Mezzanine-$11
View Deck 1-$9
View Deck 2-$7

Click here for more information and for instructions for purchasing 20 or more tickets.

Corrosion Control by
Coatings: The Series

Debuting at Corrosion Technology Week 2009 (CTW), this one-day seminar features relevant topics important to the coatings industry. From basic coatings knowledge to planning a coatings job, this series helps coatings professionals increase their understanding of coatings projects, application, and selection.

ZINC RICH COATINGS: What Makes Them Tick?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Houston, Texas
Hyatt Regency Downtown

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The first seminar will discuss the facts and myths related to zinc rich coatings and where and how they should be used.

What you will learn:

Advantages and disadvantages of galvanic protection as a first line of corrosion protection
Advantages and disadvantages of using sacrificial primer in a coating system

CTW attendees receive a 25% discount
on the registration fee for the first seminar!

Sponsored by:

CTW sponsors:

Using Potato Chips to Fix Crumbling Freeways?

2009-09-18T10:21:00.001-05:00

Concrete is a porous material, and freeways fail when water seeps into concrete and then contracts and expands with changing temperatures. Water also corrodes the reinforcing steel bars inside the concrete, which expand and cause the concrete to fail.

A new study (PDF, 376k) from Jordanian researchers suggests there may be a way to effectively seal off concrete roads and other structures cheaply with sodium acetate, a potato chip ingredient that provides a tangy snap.

From SciGuy.

Rice University Establishes National Corrosion Center

2009-09-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

For more about the National Corrosion Center see here and the National Corrosion Center site here.

Corrosion-induced auto wiring failure

2009-09-16T18:30:00.002-05:00

Corrosion to a wiring harness (and apparently slovenliness) caused a 1996 Honda Civic to display an array of puzzling symptoms. Full story here.

Congress berates PHMSA for lax permitting policy

2009-09-16T10:02:00.001-05:00

United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) said of the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA):

This agency needs a house cleaning," Oberstar said. "Safety is not a one-time snapshot; it's continued vigilance... and this agency has lost its way and along the way has developed a very cozy relationship with the industry it regulates.

More information here.

Pipeline Cased Crossings

2009-09-11T17:44:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has formed a Pipeline Cased Crossings Casing Quality Action Team (CASQAT) to discuss baseline assessments per 49 CFR Part 192 Subpart O and to develop draft technical guidance for addressing the integrity of cased crossings. The team had hoped to meet in Houston in conjunction with Corrosion Technology Week, but an internal review has raised some additional issues. A workshop is planned for later in the year.

For more information, click here.

Preparing for Close-Interval Survey

2009-09-11T17:29:00.001-05:00

Paper 09126 "Preparing for Close-Interval Survey" (download $10 for NACE members, $13 for non-members) was presented at the Corrosion/2009 Close-Interval Survey Symposium. The paper was based on a Feb, 1998 Materials Performance article titled “Close Interval Potential Surveys—Planning, Execution, Results” by Robin Pawson. The paper updates the topic for new technology and direct assessment. More information can be found in NACE SP0207-2007 “Performing Close-Interval Potential Surveys on Buried or Submerged Metallic Pipelines” (free download for NACE members) published in 2007.

Drew Hevle
Chair, 2009 Close-Interval Survey Symposium

Corrosion Definitions

2009-09-10T17:20:00.001-05:00

Corrosion—the process whereby manmade structures revert to their natural state (a modern version of the torture of Sisyphus rolling a lump of ore up the energy hill).

Corrosion Engineer—an individual of extraordinarily fine judgment who, by virtue of education and/or experience, knows all manner of fascinating things, some related to corrosion and its control.

Cathodic Disbondment—an extremely rare phenomenon that is the foregone conclusion of formulators and applicators to explain the failure of poorly formulated and/or applied coating, regardless of whether protective current is present.

Digital Voltmeter—a black box containing a random number generator designed to test the faith of the corrosion engineer.

Direct Assessment—the process of determining the condition of a buried structure by applying a combination of decidedly indirect measurement
techniques.

Fluidized Bed—a bladder control problem, typically
outgrown by puberty.

Free Corrosion Potential—a corrosion potential that is measured without additional expense as part of a lump sum fee.

Hydrogen Ion Film—an audio-visual aid that explains polarization.

Inert—not ert.

Interrupter—a device that thrives on attention, cycling applied current flawlessly while observed but dying of loneliness while the corrosion engineer travels to the first remote test point.

Non-corrosive—a term applied to environments that consist of pure fantasy.

Polarity Convention—the annual event where physicists argue with engineers about signs and directions when they cannot find the meeting hall.

Protective Coating—a material that adheres tenaciously when applied to a surface that has been painstakingly prepared, at considerable expense, by careful cleaning and establishment of the precise anchor pattern with the appropriate depth and shape, and even more tenaciously to skin, hair, clothing, and any unintended structure.

from Tales from a Career in Corrosion Control by Norm Moriber
Materials Performance February, 2002

EPA Proposes Stringent New Air Quality Standards for Lead

2009-09-10T16:23:00.001-05:00

From sspc.org

First change since 1978 planned
The EPA has proposed revising the national ambient air quality standards for lead from 1.5 _g/m3 to within the range of 0.10 to 0.30 _g/m3 measured as total suspended particles. The allowable level will be based on the current time weighted average of a calendar quarter method or revised to apply across a 3-year span, with the reported lead value within the 3-year span based on the second-highest monthly average calculated during the span.

The agency is also proposing corresponding changes to data handling procedures, including those ambient air monitoring and reporting requirements related to sampling and analysis methods, network design, sampling schedule, and data reporting.

As required by court order, the EPA Administrator signed a notice of final rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register on September 15, 2008. A new monitoring network is expected to be in place by January 1, 2010, which will allow the agency to more accurately designate nonattainment areas by September 2011.

For further information see epa.gov.

New training opportunities to keep your pipeline flowing

2009-09-09T16:15:00.001-05:00

To view this post at nace.org, go here.

New courses.
New certifications.
An expanded education program.

Visit www.nace.org/trainingguide for more information and make your plans to start 2010 with higher qualifications!

NACE International has expanded its pipeline training program!

Two NEW courses and certifications have been added to provide formal training in internal corrosion technology.

Internal Corrosion for Pipelines - Basic
(formerly Internal Corrosion for Pipelines)
This course provides students with the fundamentals of implementing, monitoring, and maintaining an internal corrosion control program.

Internal Corrosion for Pipelines - Advanced
In addition to covering monitoring and mitigation strategies, this course teaches data interpretation, analysis and integration as well as criteria for determining corrective action for high-level internal corrosion problems within a pipeline system.

These courses, in addition to the Cathodic Protection program, the Pipeline Corrosion Integrity Management program and a NACE Operator Qualification program, comprise an expanded and comprehensive curriculum to provide education for the pipeline industry.

Sign up today for the corrosion training that opens the door to more career opportunities and earnings potential.

Click on the course name for more details, or 'Register' to enroll.

CP1 - Cathodic Protection Tester
Code	Location	Date
44510029	Rosebush, MI	September 13 - 18, 2009	Register
44510025	Tulsa, OK	October 11 - 16, 2009	Register
44510030	Rosebush, MI	October 18 - 23, 2009	Register
44510046	Claysville, PA	November 8 - 13, 2009	Register
44510009	Houston, TX	November 8 - 13, 2009	Register
44510015	Houston, TX	December 6 - 11, 2009	Register
44510048	Kilgore, TX	December 13 - 18, 2009	Register

CP2 - Cathodic Protection Technician
Code	Location	Date
44810023	Rosebush, MI	October 25 - 30, 2009	Register
44810033	Claysville, PA	November 15 - 20, 2009	Register

Internal Corrosion for Pipelines - Basic
Code	Location	Date
41410016	Bakersfield, CA	October 19 - 23, 2009	Register
41410004	Houston, TX	October 26 - 30, 2009	Register
41410009	Malvern, AR	October 26 - 30, 2009	Register
41410011	Calgary, AB	November 2 - 6, 2009	Register

Internal Corrosion for Pipelines - Advanced
Code	Location	Date
41610001	Houston, TX	September 14 - 18, 2009	Register
41610006	Bakersfield, CA	October 12 - 16, 2009	Register
41610004	New Orleans, LA	November 16 - 20, 2009	Register

Pipeline Corrosion Integrity Management
Code	Location	Date
46510001	Houston, TX	October 5 - 9, 2009	Register

Word of the Day: Differential Aeration Cell

2009-09-09T13:41:00.001-05:00

The NACE Glossary Word of the Day for today, Friday September 11, 2009, is differential aeration cell.

Differential Aeration Cell—a concentration cell caused by differences in oxygen concentration along the surface of a metal in an electrolyte. A concentration cell is an electrochemical cell, the electromotive force of which is caused by a difference in concentration of some component in the electrolyte. (This difference leads to the formation of discrete cathodic and anodic regions.)

Cost of Corrosion Study

2009-09-08T15:44:00.001-05:00

A study sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Infrastructure Research and Development shows that the total direct cost of corrosion in the United States was determined to be $279 billion per year, which is 3.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Indirect costs to the user (society costs) are conservatively estimated to be equal to the direct costs. This means that the overall cost to society could be as much as six percent of the GDP.

See a breakdown of the costs by industry here. See a summary of the report here (PDF, 242k), or download the entire report here (PDF, 781k).

Presentation on Pipeline Integrity and Risk Management

2009-09-08T15:36:00.001-05:00

At the NACE External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) Seminar held in Houston January 26-28, 2009, Mark Hereth of Process Performance Improvement Consultants (P-PIC) discussed pipeline integrity and risk management. A copy of his presentation is here (PDF, 395k).

NACE's next pipeline integrity management seminar addresses the Alternate Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) regulation for natural gas transmission pipelines, also known as the 80% Rule. For more information, click here.

NTSB Major Pipeline Accident reports

2009-09-07T14:58:00.001-05:00

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has a brief summary and report for major pipeline accidents here.

Corrosion Technician Electrocuted

2009-09-07T14:49:00.001-05:00

Report from Alberta Workplace Health and Safety on a 2004 incident where a technician was killed working on a cathodic protection rectifier here (PDF 1.58M).

Cathodic Protection Survey Procedures

2009-09-04T10:19:00.001-05:00

NEW BOOK!

Cathodic Protection Survey Procedures

by W. Brian Holtsbaum

Provides a detailed step by step procedure for on-shore cathodic protection tests including:

Rectifier inspections and troubleshooting
Structure-to-electrolyte (pipe-to-soil) potential measurements
DC current measurement
Diagnostic testing (troubleshooting cathodic protection systems)
Adjustive surveys
Commissioning of cathodic protection systems
Close interval potential surveys
DC stray current testing
Electrical isolation tests
Road casing isolation testing
AC hazardous voltages on pipelines and
Soil resistivity measurements

Each of these test procedures were prepared as modules that can be used independent of each other.

The text will be especially useful to cathodic protection technicians in assisting with their field tests, to cathodic protection technologists or specialists in the analysis of the tests data and for persons involved in the training of cathodic protection personnel.

2009 by NACE International, 7” x 9”, softbound, 325 pages.

Product Number: 37590

Author: W. Brian Holtsbaum
ISBN: 9781575902197
Pages: 325

Prices
Member Price: $72.00
Non-Member Price: $95.00

PRCI Continues SCC Data Mining Program and Seeks Member and Pipeline Operator Support

2009-09-04T10:07:00.001-05:00

The Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) recently received additional support and supplemental funding from PHMSA to continue the efforts to collect, compile, and analyze data for determining pipeline susceptibility to Stress Corrosion Cracking, or SCC. The SCC Data Mining Program is a key element of PRCI’s research program on SCC susceptibility (PRCI Program SCC-2) and consists of a consolidated effort to gather an industry database on the operating and environmental conditions that influence the initiation and growth of SCC on pipelines and the conditions where pipelines have not shown any indications of SCC.

See PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Research and Development Website here.

Read more about PRCI's SCC data mining project here.

Corrosion CSI

2009-09-03T09:48:00.001-05:00

Scientists have found that the sweat exuded from finger pores causes slight but permanent corrosion of metal surfaces touched by an individual, from a bullet to a bomb part. See the article in the Boston Globe here, the full article "Visualization of Latent Fingerprint Corrosion of Metallic Surfaces" by John W. Bond appears in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, Volume 53 Issue 4, Pages 812 - 822, Published Online: 9 May 2008.

How Acid Rain Works

2009-09-03T09:40:00.001-05:00

Interesting article on acid rain on the site howstuffworks.com here. The article discusses the effects of acid rain, methods being employed to reduce acid rain, and includes some links and a bibliography for additional resources.

Dowdey, Sarah. "How Acid Rain Works." 05 August 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. 10 September 2009.

Pipe Corrosion Led to Delaware Refinery Explosion

2009-09-02T09:31:00.001-05:00

Pipe corrosion led to Del. refinery explosion
By RANDALL CHASE (AP)

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Pipe corrosion that went undetected for years led to an explosion and fire that rocked a Sunoco oil refinery in Claymont in May, authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators said the corrosion, caused by unseen condensation moisture that had collected between the bottom of a 10-inch pipe and a loose steel sleeve on which it rested, resulted in a gas leak that triggered the May 17 fire and explosion.

No one was injured, but the explosion in the ethylene complex at Sunoco's Marcus Hook Refinery lit up the night sky along the Delaware River and could be seen and felt miles away. Ethylene is a feed stock used in the production of plastics.

State Fire Marshal Grover Ingle said gas leaking from the pipe spread throughout the ethylene unit, where operating temperatures of some equipment ranged from 500 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

"That was enough for the escaping gases to ignite," said Ingle, who declared the fire accidental.

Sunoco spokesman Thomas Golembeski said the state's finding coincides with the results of Sunoco's own internal investigation.

To continue reading this article, click here.