CORROSION NEWS - MARCH 2001

Bahrain Minister Hails Private Sector Units for Their Role in Training

Grand Forks, N.D., Anti-Corrosion Coating Company Gets $ 100,000 from Army

Auto Care Tips, Tricks and Ideas: Corrosion Clean-Up

What They Make: Corrosion Engineers

Spring Into Action - Time to Check Out Potential Corrosion Problems around the House

Sergeant Reaps $10,000 for $1 Million Idea

EPA Approves Agion Technologies' Silver Antimicrobial for HVAC System Components

Try Ways to Limit Lead from Corrosion in Drinking Water

China Short of High-Grade Auto Paints

Corrosion Resistant "Barnacle Adhesive"

Ford and State Agencies Begin 'Diesohol' Project

Safety at Sea; Plan Revealed to Catch More Unsafe Ships

NYSTAR Offers More Funds to College Innovators - Even for Corrosion

Cleaning Out Gutters, Keeping Metal Dry Are Ways to Battle Corrosion

The Andina Trader Headed to Klaipeda to Repair Corrosion

Cost of Corrosion Keeps Creeping Up

Inherently Conductive Polymers as Corrosion Inhibitors

Netcoast Communications Launches GPS-Based Monitoring System

Lead Woes Tied to Corroding Pipes

Where Have the Old Oscars Gone? to the Oscar Hospital…of Course

Problem of Leaky Pipes Grows; Pinholes Affect More Homes than County First Said

Corrosion Silences the Sound of the Sea…only Temporarily

Structural Damage Forces Illinois to Ban Trucks from Mckinley Bridge; Move Could Cost Venice $ 300,000 a Year and $20 Million for Repair

Fighting Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Using Carbon Fibers

MAIB Publishes Report Into Annandale - Corrosion was Involved

Crunch Time - Corrosion Causes Gearbox Failures

PPG Repeats as PACE Winner for Auto Coatings Innovation

Seabed Search for Depleted Uranium DU

Public Service Board Rejects Quick Yankee Gas Plan

Rat Droppings, Corrosion and Design Flaw Could be Cause of Zoo Monorail Crash

Petroleum Regulator Demands Pipeline Inspection Plans from Petrobras

CPVC Plumbing Systems Seen as Corrosion Solution in California

Aluminum Continues to Capture More Auto Applications

$6-million Repair Bill Stalls Sports Hall to Prevent Corrosion

Army Says It's $3 Billion Short on Munitions

Nigerian Trade Link Offers Cable Solutions and Corrosion

Innovative Coatings Corp Coats Georgia Tech Cooling Towers

Helicopter Manufacturers Looking for Corrosion Problems

Risk of Maintaining an Ageing Skyhawk Fleet

Australian Defence Force Signals New Troop Lift Helicopter

The Water's Interaction with Copper Pipes Eats Holes in the Metal. Polk Water Customers Tired of Leaks

Florida to Spend $1 Million to Repair, Replace Corroded Bridge Skyway Cameras

Corrosion Causes Leaking Underground Storage Tanks in Michigan

Breaking the Ice: De-icers Do the Job - but may Cause Corrosion

18 Foreign Ships under Detention in the United Kingdom During January

Pennsylvania's Aging Bridges Pose Practical, Pecuniary Problems; Cost Estimates - $300 Million To $7 Billion to Fix

Uranium Lost During Safety Experiment - by Corrosion?

New Surface Strength Gives Light Alloys the Strength of Steel

BAHRAIN MINISTER HAILS PRIVATE SECTOR UNITS FOR THEIR ROLE IN TRAINING  top

The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Abdulnabi Al Sho'ala, praised the increased participation of the private sector in making Bahrain a centre for regional training at all levels. He was speaking at the inauguration of the CATAP Training Centre for paint technicians which has been set up by Bahrain's leading paints company, Hempel Paints.

The training centre will be dedicated by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, in purpose-built premises within the Hempel Paints compound in the Mina Salman industrial area. Bearing in mind ministry efforts to promote Bahrain as a regional training centre at all levels, the training centre will be open to GCC nationals as well. "This centre is the result of dedicated efforts and consultation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and Hempel Paints and represents the positive response of private sector companies such as Hempel to the training and employment needs of Bahrain," the minister said in his inaugural address, "Such efforts help us to provide world-class training and create job opportunities for Bahrainis. We all know that millions of dinars are lost in the industries due to corrosion and training in proper painting and maintenance techniques will help promote equipment efficiency. From this standpoint, training is an investment in the future both in terms of skilled manpower and equipment maintenance for industries."

The minister was especially appreciative of the move to establish a Course Quality Committee made up of expert volunteers drawn from the island and GCC industrial circles. These members are to be nominated and supervised by LTI-ME, which will provide the technical training at the centre and the UK-based Institute of Corrosion.

"While the ministry does have a Training Promotion Office which encourages and helps in the establishment of private training initiatives in Bahrain, when it comes to quality and standards of training in these institutes, we prefer to allow the industry concerned to set the standards," the minister commented. "Otherwise the process gets unwieldy with the inclusion of too many different experts. We are, therefore, especially pleased that this Training Centre will have its standards endorsed by Bahrain and GCC industry specialists. This is the kind of decentralisation we look for in projects which ensure long-term quality control as well." According to John T O'Shea, president of the Institute of Corrosion, the CATAP training centre is the first of its kind not only in the Gulf region but is unique in the world because such courses are usually run in- house by industries concerned.

GRAND FORKS, N.D., ANTI-CORROSION COATING COMPANY GETS $ 100,000 FROM ARMY  top

Technology Applications Group Inc. of Grand Forks recently was awarded a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Army. The money would allow TAG to develop a new anti-corrosion coating for magnesium, a widely used alloy in helicopter engines, according to vice president Bill Elmquist.

The 12-year-old firm's core product is Tagnite, also an anti-corrosion coating for magnesium parts. It counts Boeing Co.'s helicopter division and aircraft engine-maker Pratt & Whitney among Tagnite customers. The grant was given under Small Business Innovation Research, a federal program encouraging small businesses to develop new technologies. Under the first six-month phase, TAG will determine the scientific and commercial feasibility of its coating technology. This is the first SBIR grant the firm has won, and it got a lot of help from UND's Center for Innovation.

AUTO CARE TIPS, TRICKS AND IDEAS: CORROSION CLEAN-UP  top

To eliminate battery corrosion - the leading cause of roadside-assistance calls - simply disconnect the cables from the battery posts (always negative cable first, then positive) and clean the posts with a baking-soda paste. Any additional corrosion can be removed with a wire brush. Finally, apply petroleum jelly to eliminate future corrosion.

WHAT THEY MAKE: CORROSION ENGINEERS  top

Aerospace $65,000
Construction 72,780
Utilities 80,860
Oil and gas extraction 84,930
Metals and mining 87,270
Refining 88,420


These professionals prevent and control corrosion.

Salary surveys for other professions can be found at salary.com. Source: NACE International the Corrosion Society -- 2000.

SPRING INTO ACTION - TIME TO CHECK OUT POTENTIAL CORROSION PROBLEMS AROUND THE HOUSE  top

* Make sure gutters are free of leaves and debris and check them for holes and corrosion.
* Look at any metal flashing near your chimney for signs of corrosion.
* Inspect all exposed pipes for leaks and corrosion. Check faucets and pipe work under sinks for drips.

Web sites of interest:

* www.nari.org: National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers tips and articles on home improvement projects.
* www.sears.com: Sears HomeCentral offers repair services and lists service technicians.
* www.acehardware.com: Helpful home improvement tips from Ace Hardware.
* www.ourhouse.com: Our House provides products, service and advice for every aspect of your home.

SERGEANT REAPS $10,000 FOR $1 MILLION IDEA  top

When C-130 Hurcules engine throttle rods started breaking, the Air Force had to act. But when Master Sgt. Richard Carey waded in with his suggestion, the cost of fixing the problem suddenly went way down.

As the turbopropeller systems manager for Air Force Reserve Command aircraft maintenance at the time, Carey had a vested interest in replacing the throttle rods, which control the fuel supply to the engines. The rods were corroding from the inside out, jeopardizing the safety and reliability of hundreds of C-130 aircraft. Because Carey was not directly involved in C-130 repairs, he earned the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program's maximum award -- $10,000.

The corrosion problem came to the Air Force's attention in October 1999 after a maintenance team at the 143rd Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard C-130 unit in Rhode Island, broke an engine throttle control rod while installing an engine. The rods were made of carbon steel, not non-corrosive stainless steel that the manufacturer started installing on C-130s in the mid-1980s.

The logistics center issued a time compliance technical order requiring replacement of the assemblies on 2,800 engines at a cost of $402.20 each. Carey had a better idea. Rather than buy new assemblies from the manufacturer, he suggested removing the carbon steel rods and replacing them with stainless steel tubing at a cost of $63 a piece. His idea saves the Air Force $949,760.

EPA APPROVES AGION TECHNOLOGIES' SILVER ANTIMICROBIAL FOR HVAC SYSTEM COMPONENTS  top

AgION Technologies today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of its silver antimicrobial compound in coatings for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System components. The antimicrobial agent inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, fungi, and yeasts that may cause odors, staining, discoloration, deterioration, and corrosion. This approval will allow the AgION(TM) antimicrobial compound, a combination of silver in an inorganic ceramic material, to be incorporated into HVAC equipment and related materials such as insulation, ducts, heat exchanges, drain pans, air filters and diffusers.

AgION(TM) antimicrobial provides a layer of protection that prevents the growth of microbial contaminants. Its active agent is silver in an inorganic, ceramic compound that allows the slow release of silver ions from the treated surface and that provides long lasting, safe, and durable protection against organic contamination that can cause odors, degrade ventilation equipment, and reduce its efficiency.

"This significant approval continues to position AgION as a leader in addressing the growing concern about odor, corrosion, and organic buildup that can impede HVAC system performance," explains Roger M. Freedman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AgION Technologies.

TRY WAYS TO LIMIT LEAD FROM CORROSION IN DRINKING WATER  top

The March 13 article "Bad water threatens Hamtramck" would have better served readers if it bore the headline "Lead pipes threaten Hamtramck." The source of drinking water that Hamtramck receives from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is no different from the high-quality water that the facility provides to 125 other Southeast Michigan communities.

Hamtramck residents need to be made aware that lead is not naturally found in Detroit's raw or treated water. It also must be emphasized that the relative risk to public health from lead in drinking water is believed to be minimal under normal water use conditions. Studies have determined that lead enters drinking water from corrosion of materials containing lead in the system or household plumbing. Or it can come from services pipes that are made of lead.

The Detroit water department has worked diligently since the 1980s with other regulatory agencies to educate its customers and the communities to which it supplies water about preventing lead in drinking water. Public education measures have included meetings, notices, public service announcements and brochures. Our lead monitoring and corrosion control treatment programs have also been successful in reducing lead levels in communities served. In addition, we have worked closely with wholesale communities to advise them of the steps necessary to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard, which is 15 parts per billion or 0.015 milligrams per liter of water.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix or magic-wand approach to replacing aged lead pipes in Hamtramck, and undoubtedly, this project will financially impact that city and its ratepayers. The reality, however, is that the water industry is facing major infrastructure replacement issues across the board. But when it comes to increased public health and safety standards due to more stringent regulatory requirements, the long-term value greatly outweighs the initial cost.

In the meantime, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department can provide constructive information regarding lead in drinking water along with easy-to-follow guidelines that families can use to reduce possible exposure to lead in their water. This information can be obtained by calling the Public Relations Section of the Public Affairs Division at (313) 964-9570.

CHINA SHORT OF HIGH-GRADE AUTO PAINTS  top

China is now short of high-grade auto paints while faces an oversupply of low-grade products, according to the State Economic and Trade Commission. Auto paints have two types, one for new vehicles and the other for patching. The output of auto paints usually accounts for 20 percent of the total in the developed countries. But China produces less than 10 percent of the total paints for motor vehicles. In recent years, China has imported several auto paint production lines, which can satisfy the need in quantity, but have a big gap in quality and variety. At present, the country's auto paints are dominated by imports and products made with imported materials. Such situation indicates a big space of development for auto paint production, especially those of high yield and multiple performances. The same situation is for the construction paint. According to a survey, China now has more than 400 enterprises producing construction paints. The number seems to satisfy the market demand. But a big proportion of their products are low- and medium-grade products, especially water construction paints, with high-grade products accounting for a very small part.

Anti-corrosion paint is a mating paint product used by sea-born and chemical sectors, playing an important role in the development of shipbuilding industry and marine engineering industry in China. China has edged into the top ten navigation countries in the world, with total tonnage reaching 19.50 million tons. Adding the demand from marine engineering, port construction and fish boats, the total demand for anti-corrosion paints is estimated to reach 180,000 tons in 2001.

CORROSION RESISTANT "BARNACLE ADHESIVE"  top

A GREEN bottle found washed up near the high tide zone had obviously been adrift for a long time. It had become the habitat for several marine species, the most numerous of which were goose barnacles, which had formed a floating colony of more than 50 individuals. For many years, it was thought barnacles were a type of shellfish but in 1830 microscopic examination of the larvae showed that they were in fact members of the Crustacea and therefore cousins of crayfish and crabs.

Each barnacle has male and female reproductive organs. Eggs are incubated inside the shell and when hatched, the young larvae become free-swimming, travelling with the ocean tides. After several moults, they attach themselves to a hard surface by secreting a special adhesive that sets underwater.

Scientists are very interested in the barnacles' adhesive as it has properties that may well have significant medical use for bone and dental surgery and also in industry. Barnacle "cement" is impervious to bacteria, resists corrosion by acids and many known solvents, and withstands temperatures of 200degC.

As the bottle drifted, many free-swimming larvae had attached themselves to the cork and glass and, until beached, would have been a thriving colony. Protruding from the left hand barnacle are some of the curled feet used to sweep through the water sifting out food.

FORD AND STATE AGENCIES BEGIN 'DIESOHOL' PROJECT  top

Ford Motor Co is working with two state agencies on a one-year pilot project to develop bio-ethanol fuels for diesel vehicles. The project will research the properties of diesohol, a mixture of diesel oil and 10% crop-based ethanol, using Ford Ranger one-ton pickup trucks. The research will focus on vehicle performance, combustion, durability or corrosion of engines and parts and fuel economy in city and highway driving. The findings will provide a database on both technical feasibility and economic viability of diesohol in regular and turbo-charged diesel engines. The results should help the industry formulate more precise plans for diesohol utilisation in the future, said the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, one of the participants in the project.

Also taking part is the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre (MTEC). PTT governor Viset Choopiban, MTEC director Pairash Thachayapong and Ford Operations (Thailand) Co president Chatchai Bunnag signed the agreement yesterday. Like most other automakers, Ford has been actively researching alternative fuels. Its E85 model, the first vehicle to run on a blend of 85% ethanol, has been tested successfully and commercial production is expected to start soon.

SAFETY AT SEA; PLAN REVEALED TO CATCH MORE UNSAFE SHIPS  top

More than one year after the Erika tanker split in two, dumping 70,000 barrels of oil off the coast of France, three industry groups have unveiled measures aimed at making it easier to identify unsafe ships.

The Houston-based American Bureau of Shipping, or ABS, was one of the three international shipping bureaus that developed 10 safety points, which included increasing the number of surveyors who conduct inspections of some types of vessels.

Oslo, Norway-based Det Norske Veritas, London-based Lloyd's Register and ABS announced the safety initiatives last week. These three bureaus are responsible for inspecting commercial vessels and setting safety standards for 51 percent of the world's fleet.

ABS operates out of a Greenspoint office in Houston Texas and surveys 16 percent of the world's ships. It specializes in offshore rigs. Tuesday, another ship sank, highlighting the need for new safety standards. The Balu, a 24-year-old ship carrying 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid, sank near Spain. The 23-person crew was rescued from the ship, which, like the Erika, was Maltese-flagged.

The London-based International Association of Classification Societies issued a news release stating that most of these initiatives already have been agreed to by the 10-member association, which includes ABS, Det Norske and Lloyd's.

Inspection proposals. Some of the new ship safety initiatives set by three international shipping bureaus, including Houston-based American Bureau of Shipping:

* Require two surveyors to inspect tankers and bulk carriers older than 15 years of age.
* Warn owners of ships of the same design when surveyors discover a problem on one ship.
* Force ship owners to make repairs before a ship is transferred to another classification society, a bureau that inspects and sets standards for maintenance of vessels.
* Established a group to develop common ship designs and corrosion margins for ships.
* Introduce common training and qualification standards for ship surveyors who inspect vessels to ensure it is being properly maintained and is safe to sail.

NYSTAR OFFERS MORE FUNDS TO COLLEGE INNOVATORS - EVEN FOR CORROSION  top

The New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research has money available to help bring high-tech innovations and experiments on New York college and university campuses to the marketplace. NYSTAR is looking for funding requests from the institutions -- and their business partners -- for a third round of funding in the so-called Technology Transfer Incentive Program.

In the recently completed first cycle of funding, NYSTAR awarded $ 1.5 million for seven projects, including an imaging system that will improve the ability to detect ice and corrosion on aircraft, and a thermal imaging camera that can be used by firefighters to locate people in smoke-filled buildings.

In the second cycle of funding, NYSTAR received 20 proposals totaling $ 5 million. Those are going through peer review, and money will be awarded this spring.

CLEANING OUT GUTTERS, KEEPING METAL DRY ARE WAYS TO BATTLE CORROSION  top

Corrosion is an electrochemical process that results in the degradation of the physical and aesthetic properties of a metal. Rust is a form of corrosion that affects ferrous metals like iron and steel. In the process, oxygen pulls electrons away from the metal, causing it to disintegrate. Some oxidation can occur when oxygen in the air comes in contact with the metal, but in most cases water vapor must be present before any appreciable deterioration can take place. With iron, for example, 40% humidity must be present before rust will occur.

The most effective way to prevent corrosion is to keep metal surfaces dry. Isolating the metal by coating it with a water-resistant film like paint, lacquer or wax is another practical way to prevent corrosion.

Before coating any metal surface, remove all traces of rust or corrosion -- do not attempt to paint over metal that is covered with loose rust -- by sanding or scraping to expose bare metal. Then apply a primer and finish with paint. The paint and primer should be of the same brand because they are usually formulated to work together. Rust can also attack metal in areas that are inaccessible. Consider the inside of the home hot-water heater, for example. Corrosion is common in hot-water heaters because the ions circulating in the water make it easy for dissolved oxygen to pull the electrons from the interior surface of the metal tank.

Manufacturers try to extend the life of the tank by coating the inside with a ceramic glaze, but any cracks in the glaze will give rust a place to start. So manufacturers offer another line of defense, called a sacrificial anode rod. The anode rod is a length of magnesium or aluminum that projects down into the tank. It attracts the circulating ions before they can attack the tank walls. Eventually, the rod will corrode and wither away; when that happens, the walls of the tank will start to rust. It is important then to check the rod periodically and replace it before it disintegrates completely. This involves unscrewing the old rod, removing it from the tank and installing a new one. Maneuvering a new rod into the tank may be difficult if there is little clearance above the water heater. You can, however, buy an articulated anode that is segmented like a chain. The linked sections allow you to bend the rod for installation.

Sometimes rust and corrosion occur only in localized areas, leaving the larger part of metal surface intact. This is called zone corrosion. There are three types of zone corrosion: galvanic, crevice and pit.

Galvanic can happen whenever two dissimilar metals contact each other. One way to prevent this corrosion is to replace one of the metal pieces with another that is compatible with the mating piece.

For example, many aluminum storm doors have steel rivets holding the hinges or closing piston place. Often, corrosion starts around these fasteners, then works to the aluminum panels.

Crevice corrosion occurs around the joints and seams of metal fixtures where dirt accumulates. By itself the dirt is not particularly harmful, but it allows moisture to collect and this causes corrosion. Joint and seam corrosion is a common occurrence on gutters and downspouts. Clean them often to keep dirt and leaves, which retain moisture, from building up.

Pitting corrosion occurs outdoors when the wind bombards metal surfaces with minute particles of dirt, salt or sand and creates microscopic craters that retain moisture.

The corrosion starts on a small level, then quickly escalates into a formidable problem. Outdoor electrical conduits, metal windows and doors, and children's play equipment are a few of the items that receive constant assault from air-borne particles and are subject to pit corrosion.

THE ANDINA TRADER HEADED TO KLAIPEDA TO REPAIR CORROSION  top

"This was not a ship which had escaped our vigilance," he told Lloyd's List this week. "It was completely known that the vessel was at the limit but, according to us, without danger. Otherwise, we would have stopped the ship earlier. "If there had been a real risk after the measurements in Italy, we would have stopped her in Italy in December." Alendal Rederi of Hagesund in Norway, the owner of the Andina Trader, also challenged Mr Breton's assessment of the state of the vessel. Technical manager, Arne Alendal, argued that Mr Breton had not initially understood the vessel's situation, namely the fact that she was under close class supervision and that major repairs were programmed immediately following her call at St Malo.

Regarding Mr Breton's claim that she was in danger of breaking into two, he said : "This is not a fact because she was under full control of class." He argued that port state inspectors, who were generally former merchant navy officers, as is the case of Mr Breton and his number two, did not have the expertise to judge whether corrosion was such as to prevent a vessel from sailing or not.

"Class are the ones who have to know what is safe or not, " he said. " They are better than port state to make that kind of judgment." Mr. Alendal did not seek to hide the fact - highlighted by Mr Breton with the aid of the Equasis data bank - that he operates a fleet of some 20 aged vessels, the oldest of which were built in 1969. "Yes, we have a lot of old ships," he said. "That's what we run. We don't have new ships." But he added : " We try to keep them in good condition. We have to keep them in good condition to have cargo on board. " The 21-year-old Andina Trader has spent a large part of her working life in North American waters without encountering any particular problems, to Mr Alendal. Although five deficiencies were raised in her last port state control inspection in Rotterdam. As for her serious corrosion problems, he argued that a certain level of corrosion was endemic to chemicals carriers. "They are more like submarines," he said. "Maintenance is not too easy." He argued, nevertheless, that Mr Breton and his number two did not help the vessel by their decision to detain her in St Malo throughout last week, effectively delaying her voyage to Klaipeda for repairs. He said he understood that the French authorities were "nervous" following the sinking of the Erika and the Ievoli Sun in recent months but added : "It is not good for us to be detained. It gives us a bad reputation and we don't like it."

So who was right about the Andina Trader? Short of the ship actually breaking up or undergoing a fresh examination by an independent surveyor, it is impossible to say whether she could have broken up at sea, as did the Kristal and the Erika before her. It is the port inspector's word against that of the classification society.

Mr Breton disputed the assertion that he was not able to judge the seriousness of the corrosion on the vessel, however. He acknowledged that he was not equipped to take precise thickness measurements but said that he was perfectly capable of judging whether or not corrosion had gone beyond classification society norms.

COST OF CORROSION KEEPS CREEPING UP  top

Rust never sleeps, holds the old adage, and apparently it's expensive too. Corrosion directly cost the U.S. economy $ 440 billion in 1998, according to a study released Monday by a research team of corrosion specialists enlisted by Congress. The problem apparently is getting worse. The research team said corrosion costs in 1998 were up 46 percent from 1995, when they totaled $ 300 billion. The huge dollar amount represents the cost of material, labor, equipment and funds associated with lost revenues that are caused by corrosion damage across some 26 industries, including highways and bridges, gas and liquid pipelines, motor vehicles, aircraft and oil production. The findings were issued at Corrosion/2001, a convention of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers being held at the George R. Brown Convention Center here this week. Complete results of the study, titled Corrosion Costs and Preventative Strategies in the United States, are expected to be delivered to Congress in September.

INHERENTLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS AS CORROSION INHIBITORS  top

As well as electronic applications, inherently conductive polymers (ICPs) can also be used as corrosion inhibitors in coatings formulations. GeoTech Chemical Co LLC, Tallmadge, OH, is targeting this market and has developed products employing ICPs in conjunction with metal particles to form corrosion inhibiting additives for coatings formulations. The company has trademarked the name Catize to represent this additive.

NETCOAST COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES GPS-BASED MONITORING SYSTEM  top

Netcoast Communications Inc.(NQB:NCST) today announced that it has officially introduced a new series of products for use in corrosion surveys on natural gas pipelines. The new product line includes a GPS-based Current Interrupter and a Rectifier Control and Monitoring System.

Rectifiers are cabinet-mounted electrical devices that are placed in various locations on natural gas pipelines. The devices send a constant electric current into an anode, reducing corrosion in the pipeline and extending the pipeline's life.

Under federal regulations, the gas transmission company must perform a "close interval corrosion survey," a process in which each rectifier on the tested gas line is turned on and off with precise timing while soil and pipeline potential measurements are taken. Additionally, the output of each rectifier must be measured and recorded on a scheduled basis.

Jack Parsons, vice president of product development, stated: "During a typical corrosion survey, a field inspector must visit each rectifier to install and turn on a current interrupter for the day's testing. At the end of the day, the field inspector must return and turn off the current interrupter and remove it. "With our GPS-based Current Interrupter and Rectifier Control and Monitoring System all of this labor-intensive work can be done remotely. The potential savings in labor costs are enormous."

James DiPrima, president of Netcoast, said: "We are introducing these products after nine months of field testing by several major gas transmission and distribution companies. The products have proved in the testing phase to be reliable and cost effective. Given that we have the potential to sell at least one of our products for each rectifier, and that on average there is one rectifier for each mile of gas pipeline, the market potential for our products is substantial.

LEAD WOES TIED TO CORRODING PIPES  top

Potentially harmful lead levels found in some of the City-County Building's drinking water are probably coming from corroding galvanized iron pipes, a new study says. The source of the lead had puzzled city and county officials since last November, when tests by the Madison Public Health Department found that some sinks and drinking fountains, scattered throughout the building, were issuing water with high lead content.

Discolored water coming from drinking fountains last fall first drew attention to the issue. The stained water, which came from a storage tank overflow, turned out to be unrelated to the lead problem, but it got people requesting lab tests, said city environmental epidemiologist John Hausbeck.

"The testing (for lead) has never been done on a regular basis," Hausbeck said. The fountains and faucets that have been linked with high lead levels have been shut off, and Cantor recommended continued testing to ensure that the rest of the water in the building remains within U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Until the plumbing can be fixed, Cantor recommended adding to the building's water a phosphate-based chemical that inhibits corrosion. The chemical, potassium orthophosphate, is the same compound proposed to deal with Madison's lead service pipe problem.

WHERE HAVE THE OLD OSCARS GONE? TO THE OSCAR HOSPITAL…OF COURSE  top

After the curtains have gone down and the fashion victims have been dissected on Academy Award night, we wonder: What becomes of the actual Oscar? We rounded up a few celebrity tales about the little gold statues, many of which have traveled to locales more exotic than where most people have gone.

Of course, some celebs keep their awards in a place where they--and everyone else--are sure to see them constantly. Like Lou Gossett Jr. (Best Supporting Actor, An Officer and a Gentleman), who has said: I keep my Oscar on a shelf in my living room where I can see it every day. Or Christine Lahti (Best Director Short Film, Lieberman In Love) who moved hers from the office to a prominent spot in the front room by the piano, because its filled with light and music there. Back in her Ted Turner days, Jane Fonda said the couple built a custom case in Montana to house their numerous trophies. No word on whether they have joint custody now that shes solo in Atlanta.

But whats an actor to do when the little statue starts to show its age? The same thing that celebs do, of course--go away for a while to a little clinic (nicknamed, The Oscar Hospital) where it will emerge a few weeks later in top form with no noticeable scars. Holly Hunters (Best Actress, The Piano) was shipped there suffering from a bout of premature corrosion.

PROBLEM OF LEAKY PIPES GROWS; PINHOLES AFFECT MORE HOMES THAN COUNTY FIRST SAID  top

Nine South Carroll subdivisions, including one built in the 1980s, each have at least a dozen homes reporting pinhole leaks in outside water pipes, six more than the county initially reported. The county has identified about 350 homeowners with leaky pipes, but there are likely others because the focus has been on the corrosion of exterior pipes - those leading from the county's main water line to homes - not those inside homes, Carroll officials have said.

A home's age might not be an indicator of the potential for leaks. A leak was reported in a 9-year-old Sykesville home last week. "This is really scary," said Elaine Ermer, who lives in Water's Edge in Sykesville and has had to replace pipes in her basement. "People live in houses 50 years and don't have this kind of trouble."

Water's Edge is not on the county's list of subdivisions affected by the leak problem.

An engineering consultant hired by the county and a metallurgist hired by several neighborhood associations concluded independently that the water from the Freedom plant does not naturally form a protective scale on the inside of the pipes, as water usually does. Without the scaling, minute parti- cles in the water rub against the pipes, creating pinholes that leak.

"Water that destroys plumbing is not a quality product," said Robert Ermer. "As a supplier of public water, the county has an obligation to provide a quality product." About 10 residents met last week with Horst to discuss the problem and the possibility of the county's reimbursing for damage. Horst and the neighbors characterized the meeting as cordial and productive.

"We sent the county on a mission, and we expect a response in the form of a game plan," said Carol Brown of Eldersburg. "We want to know what the county plans to do and when." Horst is scheduled to brief the county commissioners.

CORROSION SILENCES THE SOUND OF THE SEA…ONLY TEMPORARILY  top

Museum of Wellington City and Sea director Ken Scadden with the newly restored foghorn from the ill-fated Wahine ferry. Mr Scadden said the foghorn, which had been restored by Acme Engineering, made an enormous sound and would be installed in the Lambton Harbor area. "It will be used during celebrations, like the B T Challenge yacht race, or dragon boat races, or to greet arriving cruise ships." The foghorn had been silent for 33 years and lay underwater for several months after the Wahine sank during a storm in Wellington Harbor in April 1968. "Because it was underwater for so long there was corrosion in the internal mechanisms so several parts had to be replaced to restore it to working order," Mr Scadden said.

The foghorn had been in storage in the museum for years till it was rediscovered by a staff member who suggested that it be resurrected. Last year, Acme offered to refurbish it. The foghorn was one of several items bought by Sir Len Southward from the Wahine wreckage. He gave the ferry's two foghorns and two masts to the museum. Mr Scadden said one mast had been restored and erected in Frank Kitts Park, the other was awaiting restoration, and the second foghorn might also be restored.

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FORCES ILLINOIS TO BAN TRUCKS FROM MCKINLEY BRIDGE; MOVE COULD COST VENICE $ 300,000 A YEAR AND $20 MILLION FOR REPAIR  top

Trucks will be banned from the McKinley Bridge beginning Thursday because engineers found cracks and corrosion in the span's support beams.

Officials said the change would cut into revenue needed to pay the debt on the toll bridge. It could also clog other bridges over the Mississippi River. Trucking companies that use the bridge said rerouting would cost them time and money. All vehicles weighing more than 8 tons will be prohibited from using the bridge, the Illinois Department of Transportation said Monday. Although the bridge remains safe for cars and pickups, officials for the department said they wanted to preserve the bridge by eliminating heavy trucks. "The steel framework is showing signs of deterioration," said Tom Siekmann, district engineer for local roads for the department. "Heavier loads could cause more fracturing. This way we can extend the life of the structure." As many as 1,000 trucks, mostly local deliveries, cross the McKinley each weekday, said Tom Fields, a consultant to Venice, which owns the bridge. Officials said the scattered truck traffic could clog other bridges during the morning and evening rush. Venice will lose about $ 300,000 a year in tolls because of the restriction.

The state transportation department plans to spend more than $ 20 million for repairs on the bridge. However, the state will not begin work until the city repays the debt or turns the bridge over to the department, Fields said. Negotiations over the bridge's ownership are to begin after it is appraised. The city has not made a payment on the principal of the bond during the last two years. The city pays $ 125,000 every six months to cover interest on the loan, Fields said.

FIGHTING CORROSION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE USING CARBON FIBERS  top

Corrosion is a huge problem with reinforced concrete structures, particularly bridges in seacoast or winter areas of the world. Steel in concrete is protected by the high pH of that concrete (lime is formed in the reaction of cement with water), creating a thin passivating layer on the steel surface. This passivating layer can be disrupted by carbonation of concrete (CO2) from the air entering the concrete and reacting with lime, resulting in a drop of pH. Also, the penetration of chloride ions (e.g. de-icing salts) disrupts passivation.

Consequently the steel is no longer protected and starts to corrode. Rust is formed in the corrosion process, rust which is larger in volume than the original steel volume. The concrete is then exposed to very high internal stresses until it delaminates or spalls. The diameter of the steel reinforcing is at the same time reduced, thus reducing the structural integrity of that reinforced concrete structure.

Since the corrosion of steel is an electrochemical process, this can best be stopped or mitigated through the application of cathodic protection (CP) or substitution with corrosion-resistant materials such as FRP rebar. Cathodic protection is a centuries-old electrochemical technique to prevent or stop corrosion of metals. CP applied to reinforced concrete was only developed in the 1950's as in the past reinforced concrete was considered an ever-lasting building material. Since then, further developments have lead to new and more durable anode systems. Master Builders has developed, through its Thoro Division, two conductive anode materials which use Nickel-coated Carbon Fibers (NCF) for use in reinforced concrete CP installations. Cathodic Protection is a technique which is already established in the U.S. and which gains interest in Europe, Middle and Far East.

Thoro CP Anode 60 (patented Portland cement based mortar ) is a conductive, cementitious mortar (=anode) which is wet-spray applied onto the concrete surface in 8 mm thickness. Primary anode wires are incorporated every 2 m to guide the small CP current into this conductive mortar. The Thoro CP Anode 60 picks up that current and distributes it evenly over the concrete surface and to the steel, due to the tri-dimensional distribution of the nickel-coated carbon fibers in the anode material. The primary anodes, spaced up to every 2 meters, are covered with a spray applied thin layer Ni/C-fibers reinforced conductive mortar instead of a Ti-mesh applied over the whole surface covered with a much thicker applied overlay or shotcrete. It has comparable life-expectancy to Ti-mesh systems, a minimum of 20 to 25 years.

Thoro CP Anode 60 (developed in the late 80's, marketing began in 1993 ) is applied to traffic bearing and non-traffic bearing structures, in wet or dry environments - e.g: - bridge decks, - bridge substructures like columns or cross beams - bridge soffits - oil platforms (made of reinforced concrete) - driving surface of parking garages - marine structures - bulkhead walls, pontoons or jetties - terraces etc...

Thoro CP Anode 30 is a patented conductive, 100% acrylic water-based coating (= anode), which is roller or airless-spray applied onto the concrete surface in two-layer thickness to a total of 500 microns. Again, primary anode wires are incorporated in this conductive paint to guide the CP current. Similar nickel-coated carbon fibers used in this anode material ensure the current distribution towards the steel. This system has a life-time expectancy minimum of 10 years.

Thoro CP Anode 30 (marketed since 1995 ) is applied to only non-traffic bearing structures in dry environments (i.e. no contact with free water as e.g. sea water or swimming pools) - e.g: - bridge soffits - bridge substructures like columns or cross beams - soffits of terraces and parking garages - apartment buildings The fiber concentration in Master Builders[superscript one] products is privileged information. Thoro CP Anode 30 and Thoro CP Anode 60 both use carbon fibers of 6 mm length. Nickel is coated onto the carbon fibers using a chemical vapor deposition process (CVD). In this process the carbon fibre is pulled through the CVD coater, and nickel is deposited by thermal decomposition of a nickel-bearing gas, technology owned by INCO Specialty Products. In a CP installation, the steel reinforcing bars are connected to the negative pole of the current supply (direct current) ensuring that the negatively charged chloride ions are repelled from the steel surface. The anode material is connected to the positive pole of the CP current supply. It is this anode material which determines the longevity of the CP installation.

MAIB PUBLISHES REPORT INTO ANNANDALE - CORROSION WAS INVOLVED  top

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) today published its report into the flooding and floundering of the fishing vessel Annandale (BF 89) 16 miles North North East of the Shetland Islands on 23 March 2000. The accident was reported to the MAIB on 23 March 2000, and an investigation began that day.

The 20-year-old Banff-registered steel fishing vessel Annandale was fishing 16 miles NNE of the Shetland Islands when she suffered flooding to the engine room. The flooding was not discovered until later as her crew had been busy on deck repairing the fishing gear. When the flooding was discovered Annandale's mate called another fishing vessel in the area, Endeavour, for assistance. The coastguard intercepted this VHF radio call and offered help.

However, Annandale's skipper refused this assistance because water was coming aboard so quickly that their help would be too late to prevent her from sinking. With the flooding in the engine room at an advanced stage, Annandale set course for Endeavour's position. Nearly two hours after the call, her crew were transferred by liferaft from one vessel to the other, and Annandale was taken in tow.

Shortly after the tow began, Annandale sank. The most probable cause of the accident was a failure in the sea water inlet piping. Contributory causes were:

* weakness in the piping because of advanced corrosion,
* failure of the engine room bilge alarm,
* the lack of a watertight bulkhead,
* the skipper's decision to refuse assistance from the coastguard.

The investigation has resulted in recommendations to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to consider making it a condition of the four-yearly safety survey that an inspection report on engine room pipework, carried out by a competent person, is produced at the time of the survey as part of the certification.

CRUNCH TIME - CORROSION CAUSES GEARBOX FAILURES  top

Premature gearbox failure is common in little-used vehicles, particularly motor caravans that spend most of the year parked. What happens is that condensation above the oil in the gearbox leads to corrosion of the parts not immersed in oil. It is also possible that your car is older than the date of its first registration. You can check the approximate build date from the date stamps on plastics such as the underside of the ashtray. If the car had been standing in compounds for a year or so before you bought it, that is when corrosion could have set in. It's always a good idea to change the gearbox oil of a "new" car after the first 12 to 18 months.

PPG REPEATS AS PACE WINNER FOR AUTO COATINGS INNOVATION  top

PPG Industries received a prestigious PACE awards Monday night for significant automotive coatings innovation. A year ago PPG became the first coatings maker honored in the annual PACE competition.

Sponsored by Automotive News magazine and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, 12 awards for automotive industry supplier process and product innovation and management excellence were announced at the Detroit Opera House. Recipients were selected from among 36 finalists after a comprehensive evaluation by an independent panel representing industry and academia.

Pittsburgh-based PPG was honored for Audioguard sound- and vibration-dampening coating. PPG was also a finalist for Bonazinc weldable primer and Enviro-Prime 2000 lead-free electrodeposition primer. "We're proud of PPG's reputation for strategic innovations that solve problems and improve efficiency for our customers," said Richard Zahren, vice president of automotive coatings. "We are also grateful to the customers who partnered with us to introduce these products nominated for 2001 PACE Awards.

"It was a great accomplishment for three PPG technologies to achieve PACE finalist status. To receive a second award in two years is an outstanding confirmation of our coatings innovation leadership in the auto industry," he added. Zahren said the robotically applied Audioguard acoustic coating dampens sound and vibration more efficiently, with less weight and cost, than commonly used manually installed pads.He said the Bonazinc weldable primer is applied before galvanized steel vehicle bodies and their components are stamped and assembled, achieving enhanced resistance to corrosion. PPG's Enviro-Prime 2000 e-coat primer is even more corrosion resistant than conventional e-coats with lead, and requires no process modification, according to Zahren. Application emissions and energy consumption are reduced with more efficient coverage.

SEABED SEARCH FOR DEPLETED URANIUM DU  top

THE UK Ministry of Defence has begun attempts to recover more than 14kg of depleted uranium which has gone missing in the Solway Firth off Dundrennan, Dumfries and Galloway. Divers from the MoD's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency have spent days scouring the seabed in an attempt to find the radioactive DU. They placed the missing DU in the Solway close to its firing range at Dundrennan last summer, contained in a specially designed metal rig, to assess the effects of salt water corrosion on the radioactive metal. However last month DERA admitted that the discs had gone missing.

PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD REJECTS QUICK YANKEE GAS PLAN  top

State regulators have turned down a request by the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. for speedy approval of its plan to build a $6.6 million hydrogen gas treatment facility at its Vernon reactor. In a letter to Vermont Yankee, the board said that the size and cost of the project made a quick hearing not in the best interests of Vermont ratepayers.

The project cannot be considered to be of limited size and scope because it involves a significant investment (approximately $6.6 million) in the bulk gas storage facility and it will result in substantial onsite construction," Hudson wrote Yankee earlier this week on behalf of the board. This investment and associated construction have the potential to have significant impacts and should be fully reviewed under the state law governing development of new utility facilities.

Yankee will have to resubmit its petition before a hearing schedule could be established. Vermont Yankee needs a certificate of public good from the Public Service Board before it can build the hydrogen gas facility, which would be used to treat the water inside the reactor core cooling system in an effort to slow down corrosion and cracking of cooling system components, a problem that is common at General Electric boiling water reactors. By installing the system, the plant would be keeping its options open about a possible license extension beyond 2012, when its license expires.

RAT DROPPINGS, CORROSION AND DESIGN FLAW COULD BE CAUSE OF ZOO MONORAIL CRASH  top

Minnesota Zoo officials believe rodent droppings could be to blame for a June monorail crash that temporarily paralyzed a Rochester minister and injured 10 others. Urea and ammonia, which are both present in rodent excrement, corroded several electrical connections in the drive that controlled the monorail train that crashed, according to a consultant's report prepared last month. Corrosion caused the drive to fail. When that happens, a design flaw prevents the monorail's brakes from working, according to the report, prepared for the zoo by Minneapolis-based Industrial Electric Company.

The drives - less than five years old - also were installed improperly, according to the report, allowing rats, moisture and other debris to sit on them. Zoo officials say the monorail, which is still operating, is safe. They plan to implement all of the Industrial Electric's recommended changes by May, including reinstalling the drives, inspecting the other drives and considering a stronger braking system.

PETROLEUM REGULATOR DEMANDS PIPELINE INSPECTION PLANS FROM PETROBRAS  top

Federal oil company Petrobras must submit a plan to inspect its pipelines in Parana state to petroleum and gas sector regulator ANP to avoid future oil leaks, said ANP director David Zylbersztajn. Petrobras was responsible for another oil leak in Parana state last month due to earth movement. Zylbersztajn said that Petrobras will have to develop techniques to prevent movement and corrosion to avoid any more damage to the pipelines in the state.

CPVC PLUMBING SYSTEMS SEEN AS CORROSION SOLUTION IN CALIFORNIA  top

Landmark Decision Allows Use of Economically Viable CPVC Pipe Plumbing System for California Homeowners, Builders and Plumbers; Provides Solution for Corrosive Water and Soil. The California Building Standards Commission today granted continued approval of the use of CPVC plumbing systems in the State on a limited basis.

This action is a follow up to the emergency approval granted by the state in November 2000, and allows an alternative to metallic plumbing systems in corrosive water and soil found throughout California.

CPVC plumbing systems have over 40 years of proven performance in residential applications. The pipe is part of a rigid CPVC plumbing system that offers corrosion resistance for homes, condominiums, buildings, apartments and hotels in California where corrosive water and soil conditions have led to pitting, scaling and breakdowns in other piping materials, causing leaks, water damage to homes, buildings and furnishings, and water contamination.

ALUMINUM CONTINUES TO CAPTURE MORE AUTO APPLICATIONS  top

Of all the major production materials used in North American-built family vehicles, aluminum, high-strength steel, stainless steel and plastics are expected to show the biggest gains in original equipment applications this year. Led by an increased use of casting alloys, the net aluminum content in the average family vehicle--cars, pickup trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles and crossover vehicles--is expected to total 256.5 pounds, a 4.5-percent improvement over last year, according to auto industry sources. Once again this year, growth in the use of aluminum is occurring primarily at the expense of iron in engine, suspension system and driveline applications.

The use of high- and medium-strength steel this year is expected to total 351.5 pounds per vehicle vs. 339 pounds in 2000, a gain of 3.7 percent. A significant portion of the growth for lightweight steels is occurring in body applications, the sources said, taking a number of applications away from conventional mild steel. The public's continuing love affair with bigger vehicles, such as standard and midsize SUVs and pickups, is thought to be mainly responsible for a 2.8-percent uptick in the average stainless steel content to 54.5 pounds from 53 pounds last year. The stainless steel-intensive exhaust systems are usually bigger in such vehicles than in cars and compact-size trucks.

The average vehicle content of plastics is expected to reach 253 pounds in 2001, an improvement of 1.8 percent from 248.5 pounds last year, in some measure due to new parts applications in truck cargo boxes and the interiors of crossover vehicles with convertibility features. Gains made by plastic and plastic composites are occurring mainly at the expense of steel.

Of all the "minor materials used in family vehicles--i.e., those used in quantities of less than 50 pounds per auto--powder metals and magnesium stand out for their continuing year-to-year growth. Little by little, powder metals are picking up ground normally occupied by iron castings, wrought carbon steel components and conventional steel forgings, and the average unit content of powder metal parts this year is expected to be about 37.5 pounds, a gain of 4.2 percent over last year's 36 pounds. Magnesium parts applications are likely to amount to a little more than 8.5 pounds per vehicle this year, a 6.3-percent improvement vs. 8 pounds in 2000. The gains are coming primarily at the expense of sheet steel, although aluminum also is losing a few small applications to magnesium, auto engineers said.

The way many auto industry sources see it, applications for zinc die casting alloys, which declined rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s, will not improve this year or any time in the foreseeable future. And the unit content of parts formed as iron castings or stamped out of conventional sheet steel continues to decline, with the need for substitute weight-saving materials being the principal reason for that. Ironically, in many applications the biggest enemy of common grades and forms of steel is proving to be steel in the form of tailored blanks and tubing, along with higher-strength steels.

The unit content of copper, which is used primarily in electrical distribution systems, is expected to remain flat at an estimated 46 pounds per vehicle this year. Although additional electrical and electronic features are being incorporated in cars every year, the copper content is not increasing because of the strides being made in applying better system design concepts, multiplexing, local area networks (LANs) and flat wire as a substitute for round wire. The use of fiber optics to replace copper in auto electrical systems is still in its infancy. Most of the materials that North American automakers are using in greater quantities in their products have specific advantages over the materials they replace. The gain, according to auto executives and engineers, is usually in one or more of the following areas: less weight; better corrosion resistance; one-piece castability or moldability (for parts-consolidation); greater durability; resistance to dings and dents; near-net-shape formability; lower bottom-line cost; and better performance in use.

$6-MILLION REPAIR BILL STALLS SPORTS HALL TO PREVENT CORROSION  top

Crumbling and cracked masonry in Ottawa's historic old downtown train station is delaying conversion of the building into a world-class sports museum. The federal government, which owns the building, has so far determined that about $6 million worth of repair work is needed. The government insists the work must be paid for by private groups that want to turn the building into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

The former station on Confederation Square has served in recent years as a government conference centre. The government is prepared to turn over the building for use as a sports museum, on condition it is not a burden for federal taxpayers. The federal department of Public Works recently examined the building to see how much restoration is needed. It found cracks in the masonry, which are letting in water and could lead to corrosion. The estimated repair bill is already close to $6 million, and could go higher, according to Rejean Chartrand, a city official handling the building's transfer from the federal government.

ARMY SAYS IT'S $3 BILLION SHORT ON MUNITIONS  top

The Army needs to buy $3 billion worth of munitions in order to close a gap between what is required to fight two major wars and what it has on hand, a top service official said last week. What's more, the service could use an additional $12 billion worth of new tank and artillery rounds, bullets, mortars and fuzes to replace less capable older ones, said Col. James Naughton, deputy chief of staff for munitions.

The Army is not alone in facing munitions shortfalls, as military leaders told Congress last fall. The Marine Corps is $220 million short of basic ammunition, Commandant Gen. James Jones told the House Armed Services Committee in September. And Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark said he has only about half of his two theater war requirement for more than 4,000 Tomahawk missiles.

Since $12 billion of the $15 billion shortfall can be made up by using older ammunition, it might seem that there really is no problem, but Naughton said aged ammunition is less lethal and less reliable. "Everybody's tanks and artillery are better than they were 20 years ago when these [older] munitions were designed," he said, adding that older, dumber bullets aren't as lethal when they come up against newer targets.

"They're not as reliable," he said. "Bullets are designed to last 20 years." Most of the substitute munitions are almost 20 years old or older, he said, except for a small number produced in the 1990s. Metal fatigue, chemical changes in the explosives and propellants and corrosion all start to be problems in the last quarter of the life cycle. The $3 billion "critical" shortfall in conventional munitions "doesn't mean we'll lose the war," Naughton said, but it could increase the risks.

NIGERIAN TRADE LINK OFFERS CABLE SOLUTIONS AND CORROSION  top

Invasive water on telecommunications cables and the resultant negative impacts on quality of telecoms services in Nigeria is a target of solutions being proffered by Atlantic Trade Link, a Lagos based firm. The company has announced that it has obtained appropriate rights with their foreign partners for a solution by which water degradation of telecommunications cables and the resultant negative impacts on quality telecoms service delivery can be solved permanently.

Observing that water represents the greatest cause of telecom cable problems as almost every cable circuit failure (underground or aerial) can be traced back to some form of water damage, from optical fibre delaminating and darkening, to corrosion and shorts in copper cables. Most of these problems they said have proven impossible to stop, especially with the current technologies of Polythene Petroleum Jelly (PEPJI), and Extended Thermoplastic Rubber (ETPR) which have been proven inadequate protection, more so with the advent of the Internet which demands improved system reliability and performance.

INNOVATIVE COATINGS CORP COATS GEORGIA TECH COOLING TOWERS  top

Innovative Coatings Corp has coated the first of several HVAC cooling towers for the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). The contract is for about $4500/unit. The purpose of the job secured from Georgia Tech is to eliminate corrosion, rust and scaling problems normally suffered by cooling towers.

Spraying these facilities with Innovative Coatings' InstaCoat 600400-8 coating will, therefore, significantly increase the life of the units (they become totally protected from weather-related influences, and also from the effects of surface condensation) and the cost of periodic maintenance, painting and the like.

Based in a suburb of Atlanta, Kennesaw, GA, Innovative Coatings Corp has developed patented and proprietary formulations and application methods of polyurea-based polymer coatings.

HELICOPTER MANUFACTURERS LOOKING FOR CORROSION PROBLEMS  top

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S- 76A, S-76B, and S-76C: AD, final rule; request for comments, requires initial and repetitive inspections of the main landing gear positioning rod assembly (rod assembly) and the side brace rod end (rod end) for corrosion. If any corrosion is found, this AD requires replacing any part that is corroded with an airworthy part before further flight. Amendment is prompted by a landing gear collapse caused by corrosion due to dissimilar metals in the landing gear rod end. The actions specified are intended to detect corrosion of the threaded joint in the rod assembly to prevent a collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during landing.

RISK OF MAINTAINING AN AGEING SKYHAWK FLEET  top

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Skyhawk which plunged to the ground near Sydney last week, killing the pilot, was one of the air force's oldest. Crash investigators face a daunting task, but IAN STUART asks whether structural failure may have contributed to the accident. The crashed aircraft, and like the other 18 spread between Nowra and Ohakea in New Zealand, it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Spare parts are getting scarce, and air force engineers are known to have worries about corrosion and other problems in the fleet.

The air force has refused to talk publicly about the crash, other than to release scant details, saying it may be weeks before it can comment on its official inquiry into the tragedy. However, the question arises whether some of the worries air-force engineers have had about the Skyhawks, among the oldest operational attack aircraft in the world, may have been borne out by the crash.

The two aircraft fly in precise formation, with the second aircraft following the aerobatic manoeuvres of the leader. Squadron Leader Neilson was flying the leading aircraft when he failed to pull out of the bottom of the barrel roll, and plunged into the ground.

The air force has already acknowledged that it will have to rely on sticking- plaster maintenance to keep the Skyhawks flying until their scheduled replacement in 2007. By then, the difficulty of maintaining such an old fleet, the lack of spare parts, and the known deterioration of some of the Skyhawks is expected to reduce the fleet to only 12 operational aircraft.

The air force is aware of problems in some of the main structural parts of the aircraft. These include corrosion in the main longeron structural beams which run from forward of the cockpit to the rear of the fuselage, fatigue in the nose-support structure, problems with the old ejection seats, corrosion in the flexible fuel tanks, and corrosion in the weapon pylons under the wings.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE SIGNALS NEW TROOP LIFT HELICOPTER  top

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is to procure up to 12 troop lift helicopters, as outlined in the December Defence White Paper, to meet an outstanding requirement. The ADF is expected to complete an internal study of the Australian Army's tactical troop lift needs and an appropriate acquisition strategy by mid-year. This study is expected to confirm the requirement and to identify a suitable helicopter type.

Jane's Defence Weekly understands the new helicopters will be acquired under Phase 5 of Project Air 5046. With its origins dating back to the mid-1980s, Air 5046 facilitated acquisition of the Australian Army's current 36-strong fleet of Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters, with deliveries running from 1988-91.

While the army is generally satisfied with the performance of its Black Hawks for land operations, these aircraft have not been specifically configured to protect airframe structures and components against corrosion and fatigue in salt-laden environments. Australian Army Aviation Black Hawks currently require intensive maintenance and corrosion prevention measures during and following operations at sea.

The Black Hawk fleet has experienced corrosion-induced airframe structural damage and mechanical problems due to shipborne operations and operating in environments close to the sea.

The new helicopters will be fully designed to MILSPEC to ensure structural and component integrity under prolonged exposure to maritime environments. Entry into service is due for 2007. The favoured aircraft type to fulfil the requirement is the Sikorsky CH-60S Naval Hawk. The CH-60S is a central element in the US Navy Helicopter Master Plan, which envisages the replacement of the service's CH/H-46D Sea Knight, HH-60H Seahawk and SH-3 Sea King helicopters with the CH-60S by 2012. The CH-60S combines the basic UH-60L Black Hawk airframe and cargo-carrying capacity with the T700-GE-401C engines and dynamics of the SH-60 Seahawk.

THE WATER'S INTERACTION WITH COPPER PIPES EATS HOLES IN THE METAL. POLK WATER CUSTOMERS TIRED OF LEAKS  top

After years of complaining, more than 9,000 Polk County water customers in South Lakeland may finally see some action to stop corrosion and leaks in their copper pipes. And if a committee of home and property owners in the ImperiaLakes neighborhood has its wish, that action will pump the city of Lakeland's water through its plumbing. Since 1999, the group has been formally studying what it considers South Lakeland's longstanding problems with the county's water. Aurveys of homeowners show that 25 to 50 percent of water customers have had leakage. For some reason, the water's interaction with copper pipes appears to eat small holes in the metal, a process known as "pitting." Several county consultants have studied the problem over the years, but have come up with no easy answers for a cause or a solution for the corrosion.

FLORIDA TO SPEND $1 MILLION TO REPAIR, REPLACE CORRODED BRIDGE SKYWAY CAMERAS  top

Choked by salt and damaged by weather, the state will try to fix as many bridge cameras as it can. Later, new ones will take their place. For more than a decade, they were the unblinking eyes of the Sunshine Skyway - a set of 13 video cameras mounted on the bridge, constantly watching for car wrecks and unsafe conditions. Now, most of the Skyway's eyes are blind. The system has fallen into disrepair, and only 2 of the 13 cameras work. The passage of time, relentless saltwater corrosion and the occasional lightning strike have rendered most of the system useless. In a few months, the state will try to fix as many of the cameras as it can. But that's just a stopgap measure. Later this year, the state will spend nearly $ 1-million to replace them all with more durable cameras that can be monitored around the clock by the Florida Highway Patrol. The cameras now in service are ventilated, and when you let in air to cool off the cameras, you're letting in the corrosive effects. The new cameras - perhaps as many as 17 of them - will be sealed.

CORROSION CAUSES LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS IN MICHIGAN  top

Old-fashioned underground steel storage tanks, which are prone to corrosion and leakage, should have been removed two years ago, under a federal mandate. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality lists the sites on this map as "open" -- meaning they haven't been removed or any leakage cleaned up. Most of the tanks contain petroleum products, such as gasoline.

To locate a leaking tank, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has a statewide list of leaking underground storage tanks. The database can be searched by county or by community. Go to www.detnews.com/ specialreports/2001/tanks/ for an online link to the information.

Underground steel storage tanks, which are prone to corrosion and leakage, should have been removed two years ago, under a federal mandate. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality lists the sites on this map as "open" -- meaning they haven't been removed or any leakage cleaned up. DEQ, whose data provided the basis for these maps, last updated its list of tanks Dec. 26, 2000. Most of the tanks contain petroleum products, such as gasoline.

BREAKING THE ICE: DE-ICERS DO THE JOB - BUT MAY CAUSE CORROSION  top

By far, salt is the most commonly used de-icer. There's no mystery to the explanation of how salt can melt ice from your steps or driveway. Basically, when water freezes into ice the little water molecules line up into a geometric formation to form crystals. When salt gets into the water it squeezes into the spaces between molecules, preventing them from forming crystals. The effect is limited, though; salt works best at 20 degrees or above, and it doesn't work at all when it's colder than about 5 degrees above zero.

Chemically, there's no difference between rock salt and table salt; table salt is just ground into smaller crystals. If you really need to clear ice from your front steps, and you don't have any rock salt, you'll find that spreading table salt works just as well. Lots of other chemicals - sugar, for example - have the same effect, and for the same reason. But, salt is the simplest and cheapest de-icer available.

However, salt can damage or kill grass and shrubbery. Salt can also hasten the deterioration of concrete. Damage called "spalling" happens when water seeps into cracks in concrete, then freezes. The freeze-thaw cycle causes the concrete to fall apart and flake away. Salt makes the problem worse because most concrete is reinforced with steel wires or bars, and if salt reaches the steel it causes corrosion that can quickly ruin a driveway. There are other, nonchloride de-icers available. Fertilizers containing the chemical urea have been found to work well as de-icers and they cause very little corrosion and environmental damage; that's why urea is often used on airport runways.

18 FOREIGN SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING JANUARY  top

Eighteen foreign ships were under detention in UK ports during January 2001 after failing port state control safety inspection, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today. Latest monthly figures show that 12 foreign ships were detained in UK ports during January 2001 along with 6 ships still under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last 12 months is 7.6%. This is an increase of 1.3% from the 12 month rate to December. The ships detained included:

A St Vincent & Grenadines flag tanker detained for the third time in just less than 2 years under the Paris MoU. On this occasion she was detained for 12 days in Felixstowe. Twenty eight deficiencies were noted, including some which could have seriously affected the vessel's ability to control a fire in the engine room. The Master and Chief Engineer certificates did not comply with STCW requirements.

A St Vincent & Grenadines flag 875 ton pleasure yacht detained at Liverpool as being dangerously unsafe with defective steering gear and a constant ingress of water into forward bilges.

A Russian-flag general cargo vessel still under detention in Falmouth with cracks on decks, defects in tanks and hatch covers unable to be secured weathertight due to damage, corrosion and distortion. Eight of the twelve vessels detained in January were registered with flags targeted for priority inspections under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control.

PENNSYLVANIA'S AGING BRIDGES POSE PRACTICAL, PECUNIARY PROBLEMS; COST ESTIMATES - $300 MILLION TO $7 BILLION TO FIX  top

Other than Pennsylvania, only Hawaii, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have a higher percentage of bridges with structural or functional problems, according to Federal Highway Administration data. Most of Pennsylvania's deficient bridges - those categorized by the state as having structural problems, such as corroding decks, beams or trusses, or functional deficiencies such as narrow lanes or low clearances - are on secondary routes in rural parts of the state, giving fits to farmers, school bus drivers, and, occasionally, firefighters.

Bridges on interstates and major highways in Pennsylvania receive top priority when it comes to funding for repairs and maintenance. All bridges on interstates remain open and only five on highways have weight restrictions, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Bridges on lesser-traveled, farm-to-market and state routes are another matter.

More than 200 of those bridges are closed because they are unsafe, more than 900 are posted with weight restrictions, and about 5,500 have "structural deficiencies," meaning there is corrosion or some other kind of maintenance need, according to PennDOT. Toss in "functionally obsolete" bridges - those that are strong enough and structurally sound but which have design flaws, such as impossibly tight corners on either end - and the percentage of the state's 23,247 bridges with problems rises to a staggering 39 percent, according to the latest state data.

Fixing Pennsylvania's bridges, state and local officials say, is largely a question of money. Pennsylvania has more than 40,000 miles of highways, state roads, and bridges to maintain - the fifth largest such network in the country. And the average age of a bridge in Pennsylvania is about 50 years, said Gary Hoffman, chief engineer for PennDOT. Last year, the state spent $353 million in combined federal and state funds on bridge repair and replacement on 231 projects. This year, it plans to spend at least $300 million. But repairing or replacing every bridge with a span of 20 feet or greater that needs work would cost about $7 billion.

URANIUM LOST DURING SAFETY EXPERIMENT - BY CORROSION?  top

More than 42lbs of depleted uranium has been lost in the Solway Firth from an experiment which was supposed to allay public fears over the substance's effects on the marine environment. A special rig designed to monitor the long-term effects of corrosion on depleted uranium shells fired into the Solway Firth from the army's test range at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbright was apparently destroyed by a combination of bad weather and the movement of its own marker buoy chain.

The test rig was installed by the government's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency - with the knowledge of Dumfries and Galloway Council - on the bed of the Solway late last year, suspended inside a steel structure and held in position by four anchors attached to the seabed. It was fitted with a selection of DU discs about an inch long and an inch wide. The plan was that the discs were to be recovered at three monthly intervals and analysed "to determine the interaction of DU with seawater".

But when divers were sent down early this year to recover the DU for the first environmental checks, they found the rig had disintegrated. None of the discs, weighing 30lbs in total was recovered. Nor was any of the additional 12lbs of DU buried deliberately in the silt beneath the rig to discover how it was affected by the scouring of sand and grit across its surface in the tidal surges for which the Solway is famous.

NEW SURFACE STRENGTH GIVES LIGHT ALLOYS THE STRENGTH OF STEEL  top

Keronite Ltd's surface treatment process may allow the use of magnesium, aluminium, titanium and other light metals, inter-metallides and alloys in industrial applications usually associated with steel. The process is based on a plasma electrolytic oxidation of the substrate material with the use of an electric power supply and an electrolyte bath. Unlike anodising, the process results in harder, thicker layers while utilising a specially modulated AC voltage and alkali electrolytes that are less harmful to the environment. Keronite can produce layer thickness of 200-600 micro metres for applications that require corrosion resistance or electrical insulation. For wear resistance, the process can be used on thickness of up to 150 micro metres on aluminium and titanium alloys and 80 micro metres on magnesium alloys. Keronite also offers application in the creation of composite coatings.