CORROSION NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2001

"Sandwich" is New-Generation Construction Material

Motiva Ordered to Repair Crude Unit - Still Under Fire for Acid Spill

Dow Committed to Epoxies

Lawmakers Question Safety at Nuclear Power Plants

Motiva Increases Number of Tanks Subject to Federal Review

Scientific Advisor Calls for "Sharing of Gifts of Science" with Third World

EPA "Report on the Corrosion of Certain Alloys" - Public Comments Sought

US Company Announces Domestic Production of Z-Pile

National Steel Announces Extension to Limited Warranty for Painted Galvalume(R) Products

Over 40 Years' Chlorine Corrosion Resistance - Three Companies Receive NSF Certification

Latest Moves on Motiva - Top Refinery Executives Reportedly Receiving Subpoenas

Easing the Pain of Corrosion - "Corrosion Doctors" Prescribe Free Tutorials at CorrosionSource.com

MIC Course Receives University Accreditation

Patent Awarded for Green Corrosion Control

Revenue Board of Pakistan Makes New Import Duty Rules

$103million Cost for "Leakless" in Seattle

Urecoats Industries Closes Infiniti Acquisition

Workers Not Warned of Hazard - Toxic Chemical Not Listed on MSDS

Qualmark and Weiss Technik Partner for Exposure Testing

$200million Performance Improvement Program Precedes V-22 Launch

New Coating Could Double Strength of Bridges

Lower Cost, Reduced Corrosion - New Fiberglass Enclosures for Hazardous Environments

Fiberglass "Cocoon" Protects Underwater Structures

New Mexico Hearings Set to Tighten Pipeline Safety

New Site Planned for Anti-Corrosion Equipment Assembly

Sabic Technology Centre Planned for Jubail

Ruptured Natural Gas Line Contaminates Ouachita Stream - Internal Corrosion Suspected

New Aluminium Alloy Cladding for Heat Exchangers

Electromagnetic Wave Technology Tests for Pipeline Corrosion

Polymer Concrete/FRP Pipes Set to Make Impact on World Market

Durable, Versatile and 30-60% Cheaper - New Acrylic Enamels for Auto Finishing

UK Tightens up on 'Ties' - Structural Safety at Issue

New Paint Spray Gun to Save Costs

$40m Contract Goes to Suez

Sewer Stories - FRP/Polymer Mortar Pipe Solves 'Challenges'

EPA Pledges $4million to Underground Storage Tank Clean-Up

US International Trade Commission "Pressured" to Defend Domestic Steel

2002 Aerospace Coatings Removal and Coatings Conference May 6-9, 2002

Glass Fibre Market Potential 'Reinforced'

Safety Board Cites Pantex 'Pits' for Plutonium Storage

New High Melt-Temperature PVDF

"SANDWICH" IS NEW-GENERATION CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL  top

A new sandwich material form is said to be a new-generation building material that is bringing the shipbuilding and civil engineering industries into a new era. Designed and patented by Intelligent Engineering, the Sandwich Plate System (SPS) has enormous structural advantages over simply stiffened steel plates, providing benefits in performance, cost, and safety. It is used in new construction, and also as an overlay for repair purposes, both for buildings and shipbuilding. SPS is a steel-elastomer-steel composite structural laminate that may be able to replace conventional stiffened steel plates. The elimination of steel stiffeners makes the SPS product less complex, lighter in weight and less susceptible to corrosion and fatigue, thus insuring lower build and maintenance costs and an increased service life. The unique physical properties of the laminate provide additional benefits through superior impact resistance, greater vibration damping, and improved thermal and acoustic insulation compared with stiffened steel plates. The SPS sandwich panel technology offers key performance and safety benefits as well. For example, when collisions or groundings occur, large steel ships can spill a lot of cargo - partly because the hull has been holed by a rock or another ship but also because cracks can spread causing further structural weakness and collapse. The SPS material survives impacts better because it is much more resistant to penetration and it doesn't allow the cracks to spread. So it has the ability to reduce the damage from maritime accidents from all viewpoints: human life, property, and the environment. Since its first marine application was completed in November 1999, SPS has already started changing the way ships are built and repaired. Intelligent Engineering now is exploring other applications, from the building of sports stadiums to the construction and repair of bridges. The material has the potential to revolutionize the construction of maritime and civil engineering structures because it retains all the benefits of steel as a building material while mitigating and substantially removing its significant weaknesses. The Sandwich Plate System (SPS) has the potential for many applications. For example, the system has been used in the repair of the deck of a ship. The lower metal surface is the old deck, which was originally flat but now has a "washboard" appearance and has lost 50% of its thickness from wear and corrosion. SPS used as an overlay reinstates structural integrity without disturbing anything beneath the surface. This enables the deck to be repaired at a faster rate than using conventional methods. Integral inserts are parts of lashing pots used to secure the cargo.

MOTIVA ORDERED TO REPAIR CRUDE UNIT - STILL UNDER FIRE FOR ACID SPILL  top

Motiva Enterprises, facing criticism for a July 17 fire that left one worker missing and presumed dead, will idle one of its main refining processes this week for major maintenance work, the company said. The work is a long-scheduled overhaul of a crude oil distillation unit that produces more than 175,000 barrels a day. The $9 million repair and upgrade will take several weeks and will reduce air pollution. About 600 extra workers will be hired for the job. State records show inspectors ordered the company to shut down the unit by Saturday (Sept. 22) after investigating a crack and a gasoline leak near the top of a main process tower. The Division of Boiler Safety warned Motiva last month that Delaware would revoke its permit if it operated the unit beyond Saturday. The company is being investigated by a host of state and federal agencies because of the July 17 fire, which left one man missing and presumed dead, eight people injured, and resulted in the spill of about 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid. Some of the acid reached the Delaware River, killing thousands of fish. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not yet approved a cleanup plan submitted last month by Motiva. Last week, the federal Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board began issuing subpoenas to 15 Motiva executives after the top managers turned down requests for interviews for more than two months. The board has enlisted the help of Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. Meanwhile, state environmental officials are still working with Motiva to develop a state-approved equipment inspection and maintenance plan. After the fire, Motiva officials admitted that a sulfuric acid storage tank that collapsed and caught fire had a history of leaks and corrosion and was overdue for inspection. Last month, state officials threatened to take steps to shut down the refinery if the company did not improve safety and maintenance.

DOW COMMITTED TO EPOXIES  top

Despite a challenging business environment in 2001 due to high raw material costs and a slowing global economy, The Dow Chemical Company foresees a rebound for epoxies in 2002. They see the largest growth will occur in Asia Pacific - as companies in countries such as China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan invest more heavily in developing technologies. To facilitate that growth, Dow invested in two new projects in the region this year. In January, Dow acquired 80 percent of Pacific Epoxy Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of converted epoxy resins in South Korea. Pacific Epoxy Co., Ltd. is currently capable of producing approximately 30,000 MT (66M lbs.) of converted epoxy resins per year at its existing epoxy resin production facility in Kumi, South Korea. And in June, the company broke ground on the construction of a new 40,000 MT/year (88M lbs) converted epoxy resins production unit in Zhangjiagang, The People's Republic of China. The facility is scheduled to begin production in the first half of 2003. Dow plans to grow the facility to include an expandable 40,000 MT/year (88MM lbs) liquid epoxy resins production unit. Several examples of recent advances at Dow that exhibit their commitment to expoxies include research and development on advanced powder coating and UV-curable epoxy resins. Also, in December of 1999, Dow introduced Blox* Thermoplastic Resins, introducing epoxies to many new potential applications. And in July of 2000, the company commercialized the first in the line of Derakane* Momentum* epoxy vinyl ester resins, improving the processability of traditional Derakane resins used in composites applications that require outstanding corrosion resistance and structural strength.

LAWMAKERS QUESTION SAFETY AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS  top

Lawmakers participating in the National Assembly's annual audit on the government yesterday (Sept.21) raised doubts about safety at Korea's nuclear power plants, saying that there is a possibility of the fatal leakage of radioactive materials. "A total of 41 cracks have been reported in steam generator tubes in two nuclear power plants this year," said Rep. Kim Bang-rim of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), at the parliamentary inspection on the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Co. Out of the 41 cracks, 31 were found at Yeonggwang Nuclear Unit 4 in Jeolla Province, four at Yeonggwang Unit 2 and three at both Uljin Unit 1 and 2 in Gyeongsang Province, respectively. Further commenting on the situation, the legislator said "Even if only one crack defect in those steam generator tubes develops into a rupture, the whole steam turbine system will have to be changed, which will cost about 80 billion won". She stressed that the steam generator tubes at Yeonggwang Unit 4 and Uljin Unit 3, which have larger crack defects, should be repaired immediately. The defect cases range from corrosion of steam generator tubes, to welding flaws in pipes in steam turbines, to cracks in the concrete foundations of power plants. Meanwhile, a total of 16 nuclear power plants are currently under operation, with four units at Gori, Yeonggwang, and Uljin and Wolseong in Gyeongsang Province, respectively. Four more nuclear power plants are under construction at Yeonggwang and Uljin.

MOTIVA INCREASES NUMBER OF TANKS SUBJECT TO FEDERAL REVIEW  top

Motiva Enterprises has nearly doubled the number of tanks on its list of storage tanks that are subject to a federal safety review following a fatal tank fire and acid spill in July. Motiva had submitted a list of 56 tanks to the Environmental Protection Agency as required under an order issued after the July 17 incident, in which one worker was killed and eight seriously injured after a fire and tank collapsed in a sulfuric acid recycling unit. On Aug. 1, federal regulators declared the Delaware City plant an imminent hazard, and ordered Motiva to inspect and repair or empty all tanks not used for oil storage. The company submitted a revised count last week that increased the tank count to about 100, said David Sternberg, a spokesman for the EPA's regional office in Philadelphia. "We were disappointed with the initial inventory that was submitted. That's why we didn't approve it," Sternberg said. "We're somewhat encouraged that the new inventory indicates they will be inspecting twice as many tanks." The 140,000- to 180,000-barrel-per-day refinery has hundreds of tanks for oil and other chemicals and goods. The largest tank can store nearly 15.8 million gallons of oil. After the acid spill, Motiva's management admitted the tank that collapsed had a history of leaks and corrosion and was overdue for inspection. Workers had filed safety warnings as recently as three weeks before the fire. Motiva's first list submitted to the EPA included the collapsed tank, along with five other matching, 32-foot-high acid containers. All were damaged in the blaze, releasing up to 1 million gallons of acid - some directly to the Delaware River. State and federal agencies continue to investigate the acid spill.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR CALLS FOR "SHARING OF GIFTS OF SCIENCE" WITH THIRD WORLD  top

ISLAMABAD : Advisor to the Chief Executive on Strategic Programme and KRL Affairs, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, on Monday underlined the need to trickle down the fruits of progress to developing countries and 'North-South' and 'East-West' dialogue. Inaugurating the 7th International Symposium on Advanced Materials (ISAM) here, he said "the issue before us is, how to bring the fruits of these scientific breakthroughs to the poor people of the Third World countries." In all, around 229 papers will be presented by 40 foreign and 170 local participants at the four-day symposium organised by Dr A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories every biennial. Dr Qadeer Khan said the privileged citizens of the advanced and developed world have been benefiting from the marvels of science for a long time. However, he said, their less fortunate cousins in the developing countries languish in the chains of hunger, poverty, destitution and backwardness. "If one calls mother earth a 'joint heritage', 'one world' and a 'global village', then how could one allow this discrimination to continue," he questioned. Dr Qadeer Khan said: "Let us share the gifts of science together and let this symposium be a step towards the idealisation of science being our common fraternity."

EPA "REPORT ON THE CORROSION OF CERTAIN ALLOYS" - PUBLIC COMMENTS SOUGHT  top

Certain chemicals contained in stainless steel, brass and bronze alloys are listed as toxic chemicals under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Those chemicals include chromium, nickel and copper. Facilities that manufacture these metal alloys may be required to report quantities of chromium, nickel and copper under the EPCRA and the Pollution Prevention Act. In determining whether to require such reporting, the EPA compiled data on the corrosion of these metal alloys. Specifically, the agency prepared a technical report that tries to ascertain the availability of toxic chemicals as the result of corrosion caused by various environmental conditions. The document, Report on the Corrosion of Certain Alloys, contains technical information and conclusions. The EPA is seeking public comments on the technical contents and conclusions of the report. Depending on the comments received, the EPA may decide to delist chromium, nickel and copper under the EPCRA when these substances are found in certain types of alloys. That decision would eliminate reporting requirements for affected sources. The report is available on the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/tri. Deadline: Written comments must be received by the EPA no later than Dec. 20. Contact: For more information, contact Daniel Bushman of the EPA at (2022) 260-38822 or via e-mail at bushman.daniel@epa.gov.

US COMPANY ANNOUNCES DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF Z-PILE  top

L. B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) announced today (Sept. 10) the availability of domestically produced Z-pile from TXI Chaparral Steel's Virginia facility. The new sections, starting with the redesigned PZ-27, offer exceptional drivability and improved durability. Z-pile is available through L. B. Foster Company, TXI Chaparral Steel's exclusive piling distributor in North America. TXI Chaparral Steel and Foster are working to provide the full compliment of PZ sections to the market. PZ-22 section will be available shortly. Domestic Z-pile production came to a halt in 1997, with the closing of Bethlehem Steel's Bethlehem, PA mill. TXI Chaparral Steel began construction of its Virginia facility in 1997, initially producing structural shapes and H-Pile. This is the first mill in the world to be designed and built around the rolling of sheet piling. Combined with TXI Chaparral's Midlothian facility's ability to roll flat web sheet piling and H-piling, L. B. Foster will be able to satisfy North America's Z-pile requirements with:

- High standards and exacting tolerances
- Premium quality - hot rolled in the USA
- Field-preferred Ball and Socket Interlock for sheet piling
- Complete line of domestic Z-pile products including PZ-35 and PZ-40
- Standard ASTM grades of A328 and A572 (grades 50 and 60) as well as
- Corrosion resistant steels A588 and A690
- Corrosion resistant coatings, including hot dip galvanizing

NATIONAL STEEL ANNOUNCES EXTENSION TO LIMITED WARRANTY FOR PAINTED GALVALUME(R) PRODUCTS  top

National Steel Corporation (NYSE: NS) is pleased to announce an extension to our Limited Warranty against perforation corrosion for our Painted Galvalume(R)(1) products. We currently warrant these painted products, regardless of Galvalume coating weight, for 20 years and 6 months, against perforation due to corrosion. The new warranty is extended to 25 years and 6 months, without changing any of the conditions which applied to the previous warranty. The effective date of this new warranty is January 1, 2001 and will apply to all painted Galvalume products sold by National Steel on and after that date. The following items have provided the confidence to make these changes possible:

- Results from the recent NamZac sponsored program to inspect 25-year-old bare Galvalume roofs.
- Results from the ongoing National Steel Paint Qualification program, which evaluates paints utilized on painted Galvalume product.
- Continuing improvements in National Steel's ability to control desired Galvalume coating weights.


Please visit the Company's website at www.nationalsteel.com for more information on the Company and its products and facilities.

OVER 40 YEARS' CHLORINE CORROSION RESISTANCE - THREE COMPANIES RECEIVE NSF CERTIFICATION  top

Three cross-linked polyethylene material and tubing producers are the first to receive certification under new chlorine-resistance standards set forth by NSF International. Brampton, Ontario-based AT Plastics Inc.; Padanaplast USA Inc. of Sheboygan, Wis.; and Vanguard Piping Systems Inc. in McPherson, Kan., have received certification that their products will resist chlorine corrosion for more than 40 years. More companies are lined up for certification, according to the NSF protocol introduced in 1999. Currently, the certification is for hot-water piping; no standards are forthcoming for cold-water piping. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used in drinking water.

LATEST MOVES ON MOTIVA - TOP REFINERY EXECUTIVES REPORTEDLY RECEIVING SUBPOENAS  top

The federal Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board issued top Motiva Enterprises managers subpoenas Friday (Sept. 14) in connection with a July 17 fire and sulfuric acid spill at the refinery, a board spokesman said. Subpoenas were necessary because of Motiva's delays of board requests for voluntary interviews for more than eight weeks, said Robert Wager, the board's director of congressional and public affairs. Created by Congress in 1990, the chemical board has no enforcement or penalty power. It issues safety bulletins and reports and can subpoena individuals or records. Wager would not identify the executives who would receive the subpoenas Friday through Monday, but Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., said the group includes Motiva's top managers. Motiva spokesman Spiros Mantzavinos only said the company was cooperating with the investigation. Delaware State Police also are conducting a separate investigation. One week after the spill, Motiva admitted that the collapsed tank had a history of leaks and corrosion and was overdue for inspection. And last month, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner warned Ebert she would order the refinery closed unless company officials improved plant safety and maintenance. Company officials later agreed to reforms at the refinery. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not yet approved a cleanup plan submitted last month by the company. In March, Motiva agreed to a $120 million consent order with the EPA and state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for pollution at four refineries. It agreed to make large cuts in pollution and costly plant improvements. During the accident, the storage tank collapse and a fire left one worker missing and presumed dead. The remains of contract boilermaker Jeff Davis of Fairless Hills, Pa., have not been found. Eight workers were also injured and about 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid spilled, some of it killing thousands of fish as it reached the Delaware River. Five other tanks were damaged in the accident, which polluted surrounding soils and the Delaware River and triggered state and federal cleanup orders. The cleanup of the spill and the search for Davis are continuing.

EASING THE PAIN OF CORROSION - "CORROSION DOCTORS" PRESCRIBE FREE TUTORIALS AT CORROSIONSOURCE.COM   top

CorrosionSource.com, the world's largest and most complete Web site for corrosion information, services and equipment, has added yet another free corrosion database to its growing educational and technical library. Corrosion Doctors tutorials, now available on the CorrosionSource.com site, are designed as a basic course in the various aspects of corrosion engineering. Through 29 Corrosion Doctors tutorials, individuals can learn the basics on such topics as advances in corrosion monitoring, aircraft corrosion, corrosion of reinforced concrete, corrosion inhibitors and failure analysis. The tutorials were designed by Prof. Pierre Roberge and his colleagues at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) as part of the college's applied electrochemistry field of study. "These tutorials provide an excellent background or refresher course in some of the basics in corrosion engineering," says Dr. Russell Kane, President of CorrosionSource. "It's a quick, easy-to-use and well organized way to become acquainted with the subject. It is a particularly good way for someone to quickly get up to speed if they are presented with an on-the-job corrosion problem, have had no previous experience with corrosion and are looking for quick solutions." The RMC has experience with "distance learning" and a variety of computer-based learning tools and has made these modules available free to the public through an arrangement with CorrosionSource. Additional information from the RMC corrosion archives is available through links to the RMC Web site. "We were fortunate to get these tutorials," says Kane. "This is an excellent addition to our other online courses and technical information data bank. Through monitoring our site activity, we have realized that more than 50 percent of our regular users are not corrosion specialists, but are technicians, engineers and managers confronting problems involving corrosion or unplanned maintenance. I have known Prof. Roberge for many years and have watched his online learning program grow and finally asked him if he wanted to collaborate. This was a real win-win scenario. CorrosionSource wanted more tutorial content, which we received from Prof. Roberge, and we are able to increase the visibility of his technical and educational activities at the Royal Military College in return."
More on CorrosionSource in Forbes "Best of the Web" at http://www.forbes.com/best/2001/0521/040.html.

MIC COURSE RECEIVES UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION  top

A new course offered over the Internet aims to teach engineers and operating technicians how to avoid conditions that encourage bacterial corrosion, which can perforate metal or plastic vessels and lines in a matter of weeks. ''There is one class called iron-reducing bacteria that can take the iron in their food process and eat the metal directly, but the more common type is one in which the byproduct of bacterial growth aids the creation of hydrogen sulfide,'' says Russell Kane, president of the Houston, Texas-based technical publisher, CorrosionSource. ''I saw one case within 30 days perforate a cooling water system made of stainless steel, probably 1/8 in. thick,'' he says. Kane says the problem often occurs when new equipment is hydrostatically tested during installation, and then left with impure water inside until ready for use. ''In the international community, there is a lot of foul water and it tends to be a very prolific problem. But we have it here in Houston, too'' he says. The US$ 495 course, A Practical Approach to Identifying and Solving Microbially Influenced Production Problems, is the first to be offered at www.corrosionsource.com/courses/mic/. It was certified for continuing education credits by the University of Louisiana on Aug. 3. Kane says the industry is using the Web for research at a growing rate, and since bacterial corrosion is a particularly international problem, the subject seemed a good place to start.

PATENT AWARDED FOR GREEN CORROSION CONTROL   top

Donlar Biosyntrex Corporation (OTC:DBSY), a world leader in green chemistry, products and technology, today announced the issuance of a new patent (U.S. 6,277,302) that represents another breakthrough in the use of an environmentally friendly technology to prevent and control the corrosion of metals. This patented technology is designed for use in water-based systems that are corrosive to metals found in typical industrial water treatment and agricultural applications. The corrosion of metal equipment is a widespread and expensive problem in many industrial applications such as open recirculating cooling systems and in agriculture where liquid fertilizers are used. Millions of dollars in metal replacement, repair and lost production due to corrosion problems occurs annually in the U.S. alone. In industrial water treatment, the formation of scale and corrosion is a major problem. The growth of mineral crystals on heat transfer surfaces leads to decreased heat transfer. Corrosion of the heat transfer components can lead to costly replacements and failures. Whereas the addition of existing chemicals is known to reduce scale, they are not known to inhibit corrosion and they have a negative effect on the environment. Donlar's new technology provides a more environmentally acceptable solution to both scale and corrosion control. In agriculture, the storage and application of fertilizer solutions can be problematic due to the corrosive nature of the fertilizers themselves. Donlar's technology provides effective corrosion inhibition of metals in contact with known fertilizer solutions, such as urea ammonium nitrate. An additional benefit of this technology is the potential to enhance the performance of fertilizers.

REVENUE BOARD OF PAKISTAN MAKES NEW IMPORT DUTY RULES  top

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) late Friday night (Sept.7) issued SROs to rectify the budget anomalies regarding rate of custom duty on the import of hundreds of raw materials, goods, components and other items. The new rules on custom duty and regulatory duty apply to a broad range of chemicals, electronic equipment and components, metallic and non-metallic materials, and anti-corrosion preparations.

$103MILLION COST FOR "LEAKLESS" IN SEATTLE  top

Tolt 2, the 54" diameter pipeline which will run 24 miles and carry 120 million gallons of water a day, will ensure that water will flow from the taps of 364,000 of the 1.2 million Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) customers. The new pipeline, laid 20 feet from the old one, will become the primary water channel, with Tolt 1 used as backup - SPU commented "This emphasizes the need for redundancy in the system. We can't afford not to have the pipeline working". SPU proposed the project in 1985. The first phase, which connected Redmond to the water supply, was finished in 1990. Costing $103 million, the pipeline which will run from the South Fork Tolt Reservoir, 15 miles east of Duvall, to the Lake Forest Park Reservoir will serve most of the Eastside as well as North Seattle neighborhoods. Being built in seven phases, most of the pipeline is expected to be in place in November. Construction of the final two phases will begin in 2004. Tolt 1, completed in 1962, has ruptured twice, flooding some homes in 1987 and interrupting service in 1988. The pipes were flattened in sections by the weight of the dirt covering them. Cracks caused leaks and led to premature corrosion. The new pipeline is expected to last at least 100 years. Unlike the Tolt 1 pipes, which are made of concrete and wrapped with steel rods, the Tolt 2 pipes are made from a thick steel reinforced with a polyurethane coat. They also are welded instead of connected by rubber gaskets, making the pipeline more seismically sound. Two steel wires laid alongside the pipeline to wick away soil moisture are another protection against corrosion.

URECOATS INDUSTRIES CLOSES INFINITI ACQUISITION  top

Urecoats Industries Inc. today (Sept.5) announced that it has closed its previously announced acquisition of Infiniti Paint Co., Inc. (Infiniti), a Florida-based distributor of proprietary coatings, sealants and foams. The deal included cash and stock valued at $1,550,000. Urecoats flagship product, UrecoatsRSM-100(TM) Rubber Sealant Membrane (RSM)(TM), is comprised of a patented formula which includes crumb rubber from recycled tires. Employing revolutionary technology, UrecoatsRSM-100(TM) is spray-applied hot, literally curing as it aggressively bonds to the applied surface. It creates a permanent fused seal that fully adheres to steel and concrete roof decks or flashing, forming our patented membrane that adds longevity, durability and weatherproofing to most types of roofs and substrates. In addition to improving the sales and marketing opportunities for Urecoats' products, three-year-old Infiniti expects to generate annual sales of approximately $2.8 million in 2001. Infiniti currently boasts an impressive suite of high performance products for roofing and weatherproofing, including components for energy -efficient foam roofing systems, primers, bonding agents, topcoats, and interior and exterior paints.

WORKERS NOT WARNED OF HAZARD - TOXIC CHEMICAL NOT LISTED ON MSDS  top

Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. apologized to its workers and to this nervous community Friday (Sept. 7), blaming faulty air-quality testing and a communications breakdown at its lead and zinc smelter for exposing 65 contractors to a highly toxic metal that has made some of them sick. At a contrite news conference at a hotel here where many of the workers have been staying since work was stopped late last month, Teck Cominco CEO David Thompson said the company bears full responsibility for the mishap and pledged that such an incident will not happen again. "This incident should not have happened," he said, reading from a prepared statement. "It is unacceptable that maintenance contractors and their employees were not properly informed of the substances they would encounter during the work they carried out at our Trail smelter." The contract workers were cleaning and strengthening one of the smelter's boilers when many started complaining about flu-like symptoms and pains. They later found out they had been exposed to high levels of thallium, a highly toxic metal. But while Thompson and the smelter's general manager, Doug Magoon, tried to explain in detail how the accident could have happened, their statement also exposed additional troubling details. According to Thompson, the 65 contractors who did maintenance work on the smelter last month were exposed to between 24 and 95 times more thallium than the company's safety testing had shown was present. And while Thompson and Magoon maintained that it was unlikely that workers who completed maintenance in past years were unknowingly exposed to similarly high levels of the toxin, they could not fully discount that possibility. Some of the contract workers responded to the company's statement with a mix of understanding and anger. Workers said they have been told they are unlikely to face long-term effects from the exposure. According to Thompson, the company failed in two key areas: First, to determine workers' potential exposure to toxins, the company measured the ambient air around the boiler. The air contained dust, which the company expected would have the same chemical composition as the hard deposits that scaled onto the boiler pipes. According to those readings, Thompson said, the dust contained 50-per- cent lead, 8- to 10-per-cent cadmium, one-per-cent arsenic and between 0.2- and 0.8-per-cent thallium. Because the thallium content was so low, the company did not list the metal on material safety data sheets given to workers. But the company had also undertaken a research study to figure out what made the boiler tubes erode. For that study, on July 12 it produced the results of testing of the hard chemical deposits on the boiler. That study found that the thallium content of the hard deposits was extremely high, at 19 per cent. In cleaning the boiler, the workers removed the hard deposits, which many workers said fell into their cloth overalls and onto their skin. This lead to the second major failure, said Thompson: the results of that study were distributed only to researchers studying the corrosion problem. "The project coordinator responsible for the welding project was not aware of this research data and therefore this information was not used in our hazard assessment," Thompson said. Thompson said the company does not plan to give compensation to any of the affected workers. He said the Workers' Compensation Board will fill that role. Scott McCloy, a spokesman for the WCB, which visited the plant after workers began complaining last month but did not find a problem, said following the news conference Friday that the board was not at fault. McCloy said several times that the board had not sent the contractors back to work, the company had. McCloy said the board could not have been expected to have the technical expertise that Teck Cominco did. He said a board inspector had come to the plant and inspected the workers' respirator hoses and examined the company's air testing results, believing them to be accurate. The inspector found no problem. McCloy added that the board could not have shut down the operation on the basis of a few workers' complaints of flu-like symptoms. According to Teck Cominco and to McCloy, Trail was full of smoke from forest fires at the time that could have contributed to the workers' illnesses, and flu was spreading around Trail. "We weren't looking for thallium because it wasn't listed on the material safety data sheet," McCloy said. "If we had known thallium was present as they have indicated today, we would have moved quicker," he said Friday. McCloy said the board has seven inspectors in Trail trying to examine what went wrong. He said the investigation could take up to six weeks, but added the boiler maintenance operation might be able to reopen before then. According to Magoon, when the project resumes, workers will wear fully sealed ventilation suits and will be decontaminated before undressing after work.

QUALMARK AND WEISS TECHNIK PARTNER FOR EXPOSURE TESTING  top

QualMark Corporation (Nasdaq: QMRK), a leading provider of accelerated product test systems that allow electronics manufacturers to rapidly and comprehensively expose design and production process flaws, today (Sept. 7) announced an exclusive strategic partnership with Weiss Umwelttechnik GmbH (Weiss Technik), the world leader in environmental test chambers. The partnership is expected to significantly enhance QualMark's revenue stream while establishing the Company as a truly full-line provider of test products and services. Based in Reiskirchen-Lindenstruth, Germany, Weiss Technik is the world's largest maker of environmental test chambers with annual revenue of US $150 million, and is a member of the Schunk Group with annual revenue of US $700 million. Under terms of the agreement, QualMark becomes Weiss Technik's exclusive marketing partner in the United States and Canada. As a reseller, QualMark will book 100% of the revenue from each sale and will also participate in ongoing service revenue. Weiss Technik will provide sales and marketing support. The annual market for environmental test chambers in the United States and Canada is estimated at $400 million. Weiss Technik, which dominates the European marketplace and has a major presence in Asia-Pacific, has been seeking a strong industry partner to open the lucrative North American market and selected QualMark due to its established sales and service network and strong reputation for serving Fortune 1000 companies. A recent QualMark market survey revealed that 87% of the Company's OVS customers have also purchased environmental chambers and that 63% of that number purchased environmental systems from the same source, which has traditionally dominated the domestic marketplace. QualMark Corporation, based in Denver, Colorado, develops, manufactures and markets accelerated life testing systems that provide manufacturers with the necessary information to improve product reliability by rapidly exposing design and manufacturing-related flaws. Weiss Technik, the world's largest manufacturer of environmental test chambers, produces testing systems for temperature and climate, simulating exposure to weather, temperature shock, corrosion and extended-time testing in a great variety of test space volumes. Walk-in/drive-in systems and process-integrated systems for environmental simulation and biological purposes are designed, produced and installed per customer specifications.

$200MILLION PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PRECEDES V-22 LAUNCH  top

Working with General Electric [GE], manufacturer of the CH-46E helicopter's T58-16 engine, the Marine Corps and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) have launched a $200 million effort to improve aircraft performance until the V-22 tiltrotor enters service. The T58-16 Engine Reliability Improvement Program (ERIP) is seen as the critical bridge between the CH-46 and the V-22. The CH-46 program manager commented "It goes back to the issue of tired iron and the repair philosophy that we had to replace and repair engines and parts as necessary with used components. Over the years this has reduced the tolerances on various components. So the key issue is the loss of power margin and the fact that the aircraft today cannot operate as effectively as they used to. We have had to relegate them to lifting fewer troops and less supplies." Boeing [BA] built the CH-46. Ultimately, the Marine Corps and the Navy want out of the CH-46 business altogether, with the advent of the Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT]-Boeing V-22 tiltrotor. But the V-22 program has been troubled by crashes and subsequent re-engineering efforts that have delayed production. That complicates matters for the CH-46 program because planners may now have to adjust their funding to support these older aircraft in the fleet longer than anticipated. A full-rate production decision for V-22 was to have occurred last fall but has now been delayed until engineering fixes are implemented for the hydraulic and electrical systems, and the flight control software. General Electric will use commercially-derived maintenance and manufacturing techniques to provide the parts for ERIP. This effort also includes a material change in the metal used for the engine's compressor blades--from AM355 to A286--to eliminate corrosion, a key cost driver on the original engine blades.

NEW COATING COULD DOUBLE STRENGTH OF BRIDGES  top

A University of B.C. professor is testing a new polymer spray that could double the strength of concrete girders on aging bridge surfaces at half the cost of traditional repair techniques. Professor Nemkumar Banthia and a team of engineers from the transportation ministry will coat girders on a bridge near Duncan today (Sept. 10) to produce a reinforced fibre polymer coating that bonds to concrete. The coating, which will be sprayed on the six-metre bridge, is actually two separate components of fibre and polymers. The high-pressure spraying of the materials will coat Smart Bridge, providing the concrete with protection against corrosion and increasing the longevity of the structure. The expected result is that the bridge should be twice as strong and able to absorb three times as much energy during an earthquake. The coating has been lab-tested and results show that the technique can cost about half the amount of steel-jacketing repairs, where the girders are covered with reinforced materials. Banthia's spray will coat the bridge with a polymer that bonds to concrete. And unlike steel-jacketing, which corrodes over time, the spray developed by Banthia, called the fibre-reinforced polymer, won't corrode. The 46-year-old bridge located on Highway 18 West, near the town of Youbou west of Duncan, will be the first test site.

LOWER COST, REDUCED CORROSION - NEW FIBERGLASS ENCLOSURES FOR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS  top

Stahlin has just introduced a line of fiberglass enclosures designed for use in hazardous locations where the concept of increased safety is practiced. Key to the development of the NightHawk(TM) enclosures is the use of a proprietary fiberglass formulation with the ability to dissipate a static charge. The enclosures meet both North American (UL, CAN/CSA) and European (DEMKo) zone requirements. In addition, the enclosures exceed the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. A silicone gasket protects the contents from fluids or dust and also provides high temperature resistance. The enclosures are rated to 100C in increased safety applications. The fiberglass enclosures meet Class I T5 temperature requirements. They are also certified for use as a recognized component in Class I, Zone 1 and 2, where there is danger of explosion due to presence of flammable gases, vapors or liquids. They are also suitable for Class I or II Division 2 areas where ignitible concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, dusts, or liquids are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions. At a price 1/3 to 1/2 that of a stainless steel enclosure, lower cost is another benefit of the new fiberglass enclosure.

FIBERGLASS "COCOON" PROTECTS UNDERWATER STRUCTURES  top

Shell Expro and Lanarkshire-based Composite Solutions have launched a revolutionary subsea protection structure. The companies claim to have solved the long-standing problem of protecting fishermen, the environment and oil-related underwater structures from incidents involving fishing gear. Following a comparison of steel and composite materials, Shell Expro contracted Composite Solutions to design and manufacture the revolutionary protection structure - nicknamed the Cocoon. This encloses an underwater structure in such a way that in the event of a trawling incident, the fishing gear either passes over it safely or can be retrieved safely and without significant damage to the structure or the nets. The Cocoon is the brainchild of Shell Expro's Dr Jerry Baker and works by either deflecting the fishing gear's warps, doors and clump weights around the protected sub-sea installation or by forcing down the head and foot ropes to the sea floor where the wellhead conductor can accommodate the loads. This concept was proved during extensive flume tank trials at the Sea Fish Authority's facility in Hull, witnessed by representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation. By using pultruded fibreglass in the Cocoon's manufacture, Composite Solutions has produced a structure that claims to be a safer, more cost -effective alternative to traditional steel structures. As a lightweight, high -strength material it does not conduct electricity and, most importantly in terms of the environment, is corrosion resistant. It will also have a weight in air of approximately four tonnes, as opposed to twenty tonnes if built of steel. According to the Chairman of Structural Composite Solutions, pultruded composite materials are particularly well suited for impact protection of subsea structures due to their resilience and several of the structures are already in service in the North Sea. Site integration testing of the Cocoon will take place before the end of the year.

NEW MEXICO HEARINGS SET TO TIGHTEN PIPELINE SAFETY  top

New Mexico regulators have scheduled public hearings in Farmington, Hobbs and Carlsbad to gather input on natural gas pipeline safety concerns. The Public Regulation Commission is holding the hearings to develop new and better measures to ensure pipelines within the state are properly maintained to protect individuals and property. Pipeline operators with pipelines that begin and end in New Mexico have to report to the PRC. A pipeline explosion near Carlsbad that killed 12 people in August last year drew national attention to the problem of pipeline safety. That pipeline didn't come under the PRC's jurisdiction but raised awareness about other lines within New Mexico. Inspectors from the Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety investigating the explosion found that it had never been inspected for corrosion damage. The Office of Pipeline Safety also is developing safety rules for pipeline inspection and safety. Representatives from the Office of Pipeline Safety, pipeline operators and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association are expected to speak at the New Mexico hearings. State regulators also want to hear from concerned members of the public. Anyone wanting to comment or give a presentation should contact the Pipeline Safety Bureau at (505) 827-3549 or (505) 827-3772.

NEW SITE PLANNED FOR ANTI-CORROSION EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY  top

French anti-corrosion equipment group Carbone Lorraine (year 2000 turnover of 876m euros, 88 per cent of which from abroad) is studying plans to create, on its Pagny-sur-Moselle site, an assembly plant for heat exchangers, reactors and distillation columns made of titanium, zirconium and tantalum for the chemicals industry. The project represents an investment of several million euros and would create 50 jobs. The new plant would be operational in 2002/2003. It will contribute to balancing the activity of the Lorraine site which has ISO 9001 and 14001 certification. The management methods used on the site have helped improve competitiveness by 25 per cent in five years.

SABIC TECHNOLOGY CENTRE PLANNED FOR JUBAIL  top

An award is awaited for the Sabic technology centre proposed for Jubail. The local Dar al-Riyadh Consultants designed the centre, which is to consist of a two-storey building containing administrative offices as well as laboratories. The laboratories will include metallurgical, material, corrosion, environmental and health research facilities. At a future date, the centre will be expanded to include a catalyst pilot plant for specialised research. A clinic, library, prayer hall and cafeteria are also planned for the centre. Six companies submitted bids on 23 June for the project, which is the latest in a string of Sabic R&T developments.

RUPTURED NATURAL GAS LINE CONTAMINATES OUACHITA STREAM - INTERNAL CORROSION SUSPECTED  top

Recovery crews have begun efforts to clean up a remote area of eastern Ouachita Parish that was contaminated by a large natural gas line rupture. A 22-inch pipeline owned by Enbridge Pipeline Mid-La of Houston apparently ruptured Monday (Sept. 3) in the Swartz-Fairbanks area, northeast of Monroe. Liquids from the ruptured pipeline then leaked into a nearby stream, according to Lance Beauvais, an environmental specialist with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. It is estimated that about 8 million cubic feet of natural gas was released, and contaminants affected about a quarter-mile of the stream. State environmental officials were notified late Tuesday of possible contamination of the immediate area around the ruptured pipeline. The primary concern now is cleaning the area around the pipeline and the contamination in the stream. The plan is to use vacuum trucks to "suck the contaminated water out of the creek." According to Enbridge's director of public and governmental affairs, early indications point to internal corrosion of the steel pipeline as the cause of the rupture. Although the rupture was found Monday, the severity of the contamination from the leaking pipeline wasn't known until Tuesday. Hamshire said the company initially believed the rupture was not severe enough to require notifying state and federal authorities. However, after assessing the damage, Enbridge notified the Environmental Protection Agency and DEQ about the possible contamination. Environmental officials will remain on the site until the cleanup is completed. The rupture remained under investigation Thursday.

NEW ALUMINIUM ALLOY CLADDING FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS  top

Denso Corporation has developed an aluminium alloy cladding material for heat exchangers that is very strong and very corrosion-resistant. The alloy is also suitable for making tubes for fluids to pass through, as well as header plates for automotive heat exchangers, such as a radiator or heater. In the past, tube material or header plate material for automotive heat exchangers such as a radiator or heater have been made from a three-layered aluminium alloy clad material comprising a core material of an aluminium-manganese alloy, which is clad with a brazing material made of an aluminium-silicon alloy on one side and an anode material of an aluminium-zinc or aluminium-zinc-magnesium alloy or alloy clad on the other. When the tube is brazed to join it to a fin or heater plate, the process takes place in an inert gas atmosphere using a fluoride-type flux, or else by vacuum brazing. To reduce the weight of automotive heat exchangers, the tube material has been strengthened by adding copper to the core material, or by using a magnesium-silicon compound to reduce the thickness of the tube material. However, though tubes and heat exchangers made in this way are corrosion-resistant, just how corrosion-resistant depends on how much copper is added to the core materials, or how much thicker the anode material needs to be made. For this reason, if tubes are made too thin, they may not be sufficiently corrosion-resistant. Denso has conducted experiments on corrosion and found that large silicon and iron compounds can cause preferential corrosion, so preventing corrosion from spreading laterally. As a result, the company has developed a material which is produced by the interdiffusion of zinc found in the anode material and copper in the core material, the inventors have further examined compositions for the core material and sacrificial anode material. Their cladding material comprises an anode material clad to one side of an aluminium alloy core material containing 0.3-2.0% manganese, 0.25-1.00% copper, 0.3-1.1% silicon and 0.05-0.35% titanium. The anode is made from an aluminium alloy containing 1.5-8.0% zinc, 0.8% silicon and 0.01-0.30% iron. For further information, contact: Denso Corporation, 1-1 Showa-Cho, Kariya City, Aichi 448-8661, Japan; tel: +81-5-6625-5846; Internet:www.denso.co.jp

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE TECHNOLOGY TESTS FOR PIPELINE CORROSION  top

Profile Technologies, Inc. (PRTK.OB) reported today (August 31) that its electromagnetic wave (EMW) pipeline inspection work for major oil producers in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay region has grown to 450 lines this year, up 22% over last year's work, and that it has scheduled an additional 18-21days to inspect 36 below-ground lines for another major pipeline in Alaska. When commercial work is completed, the Company has committed to demonstration work for its Alaskan oil company customers designed to establish Profile's ability to detect corrosion on above-ground piping at the points where pipelines rest on saddles. The Company's EMW inspection technology is a high speed, non-invasive, non-destructive and automated process that remotely tests buried and insulated piping for corrosion. This patented process analyzes electromagnetic waveforms in a way that locates areas of corrosion along a pipeline segment and determines the integrity of the entire pipeline, all without the need to remove pipeline insulation or to excavate pipelines. Profile also reported that in October it will complete a one-week, buried pipe, pilot project for a large natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania, and a separate, week-long, pilot project for a large East Coast refiner. In the US Southwest, the Company has scheduled October demonstration work for a large natural gas pipeline and a large natural gas distributor. These demonstrations include buried pipe, above-grade, insulated pipe and one or more road crossings. The Company said it is also planning two demonstrations in November for two large natural gas pipelines - one in the Southeast, a second in the Great Lakes region.

POLYMER CONCRETE/FRP PIPES SET TO MAKE IMPACT ON WORLD MARKET  top

Malaysia looks set to take the world pipe market by storm with a newly patented development in pipe technology. MI Pipes (M) Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Timah Langat Holdings Sdn Bhd and Briton Peter James Francis Boatman, will begin the manufacture of corrosion resistant pipes at Pandamaran Industrial Estate in Port Klang, Selangor. In a recent statement to the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, MNI Holdings Bhd said MI Pipes has undertaken extensive marketing around the world. MNI Holdings Bhd owns Timah Langat Holdings. It has been able to introduce the pipe to the world tunnelling market which needs high strength corrosion resistant short-length pipes suitable for shipment overseas in containers. The secret of this pipe development lies in the combined use of polymer concrete and FRP (fibreglass reinforced plastic) produced by vertical casting. The polymer concrete, which is up to three times stronger than conventional concrete, provides the strength while the FRP makes it corrosion resistant. The pipe, manufactured in accordance with the latest ASTM specifications, will be produced in diameters from 250mm to 3,000mm to carry a wide range of liquids from potable water to sewage and industrial waste, either under pressure or as a gravity pipe. With its high strength, the pipe is ideal for installation by using microtunnelling techniques. The company said more Governments around the world are specifying that the installation of water, sewage, gas, electricity and telecommunication utilities be carried out by using trenchless methods. These methods avoid surface disruption, are environmentally friendly and, in many cases, reduce direct construction costs. Microtunnelling is one of the trenchless methods being used for installing large pipes deep below the surface or in areas with a high ground water table. Two vertical shafts, 100 metres to 500 metres apart, are made in the ground. Then, from the bottom of one shaft a specially built machine makes a tunnel into the other shaft. The machine is hydraulically jacked through the ground using the pipes.

DURABLE, VERSATILE AND 30-60% CHEAPER - NEW ACRYLIC ENAMELS FOR AUTO FINISHING  top

Magnet Paints announces the immediate availability of its Magnacryl Series 9000 Acrylic Enamels, specially formulated to help preserve automotive, truck and commercial fleets. Fleet managers can now enjoy durability levels on par with name brand paints, at cost-savings of 30-60 percent. Ideal for making repairs, preventive maintenance, or refinishing utility vehicles, buses, taxis and light-duty trucks, trailers and vans, Series 9000 enamels provide excellent durability and attractive color and gloss to vehicles that must represent a company's best image. Magnet's acrylic enamels help resist corrosion while standing up to repeated washings. Simplicity in selection and convenience in application stand as hallmarks for Magnet Paints. Unlike some enamels, Magnacryl Series 9000 allows application via conventional air, airless or HVLP spray equipment. Additionally, the 9000 Series paints can be applied over competitors' primers, while Magnet Paints' rust- and corrosion-inhibiting metal primers can accept other manufacturer's topcoats. Environmentally conscious, Series 9000 acrylic enamels emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of less than 3.5 lbs. per gallon. All Magnet finishes are free from lead and chromate hazards. For more information contact Magnet Paints at (800) 922-9981 or visit www.magnetpaints.com.

UK TIGHTENS UP ON 'TIES' - STRUCTURAL SAFETY AT ISSUE  top

Proposals to amend UK regulations on the robustness of buildings are published for consultation by the Government today (August 31). The proposed amendments should ensure that all buildings (not only those greater than 4 storeys in height as at present) are controlled under the regulations so as to provide consistent levels of safety within the built environment. The proposals are intended to safeguard all buildings against collapse in the event of an accident, and will require a more scientific approach based on risk analysis. In addition to the general updating of the Approved Document guidance material, the package includes the provision of stainless steel cavity wall ties, instead of galvanised ties, at all sites regardless of the exposure conditions. The aim is to promote sustainable construction and avoid the risk of premature corrosion of the ties. One of the proposed regulatory changes is "The use of stainless steel or non-ferrous cavity wall wire ties for masonry walls in lieu of galvanised steel wire ties to ensure against premature corrosion of the ties which will be put at greater risk if the predictions of climate change should materialise". Consultation paper is available at: www.bregs.dtlr.gov.uk

NEW PAINT SPRAY GUN TO SAVE COSTS  top

A Scottish company has developed a paint application system which could help oil operators and contractors save money and still meet environmental and health-and-safety regulations. Marlin Systems (UK), based in Aberdeen and Irvine, has developed the low-application pressure system following five years of development work and an investment in excess of GBP 500,000 (approx. US$750K). Tests in the UK and the US have proved that oil rigs could be painted using the Marlin spray gun without having to move personnel while still meeting health-and-safety regulations for the sprayer and others working in the area. The system is said to be about 95% efficient. Marlin's director, and inventor of the system, Jim Lindsay commented that the system has huge environmental benefits as it will virtually eliminate paint loss during spraying. It will also reduce the risk of explosion and improve safety for the operator and other workers. The system can assist operators by allowing safe painting in restricted areas such as the inside of platform legs which, in turn, reduces corrosion and saves on maintenance costs. The company forecasts that the spray gun could have a huge impact on the oil and gas industry. Oil companies are concerned about paint wastage, which is costly and a major pollutant to marine life. The system has been recognised by the Texas National Resource Commission and American AQMDs which regulate the protective coatings industry in the US. Various tests have been completed in the UK and the US, including painting a fishing vessel while afloat.

$40M CONTRACT GOES TO SUEZ  top

French utilities group Suez is on the verge of winning an important contract in Oman concerning the oil industry. Via its US subsidiary Ondeo Nalco, Suez holds Neec, the world's leading oil services company. Suez took control of 40 per cent of the capital last June and has won a contract worth $ 40m over five years. It will fight corrosion and risk on Oman's oil fields and improve separation techniques for oil and water, as well as carrying out maintenance on pipelines.

SEWER STORIES - FRP/POLYMER MORTAR PIPE SOLVES 'CHALLENGES'  top

Three Cleveland agencies, each facing unique challenges, came to the same conclusion when they had to rehabilitate sewer pipes. The problems, involving a stadium, a sanitary district interceptor and an active railroad track, were solved by using centrifugally cast, fiberglass-reinforced, polymer mortar pipe. In the new Cleveland Browns Stadium, a 5-foot-by-8-foot concrete box culvert crossed right under the 50-yard line. To prevent problems with structure and corrosion, the city decided to upgrade the culvert. The design engineer, Cleveland-based-Dodge Stilson, used 54-inch Hobas Pipe with flush, gasket-sealed joints to tackle the 900-foot-long lining project. Pipe sections, most of which were 20 feet long, were cabled in one at a time on wooden runners and strapped in place on 10-foot centers. Six 18-inch laterals were connected. Long-term structural stability was ensured by filling the annulus with a 55-pcf density grout placed in three lifts. Kenmore Construction of Akron, Ohio, had a different problem. Its assignment was the Westerly Interceptor of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sanitary District, which was installed at depths as great as 25 feet. The interceptor was so irregular in grade and alignment that the company had to bypass the flow to survey the conditions and determine the maximum liner diameter. The 1,600 feet of existing 90-inch and 81-inch brick sewers were lined with 78-inch and 66-inch Hobas pipe. The sags were removed, and sufficient flow capacity was maintained. The alignment of the system was improved by sliding the pipe sections in one at a time on pre-set rails and then blocking them in place. The constant OD pipe surface ensured precise alignment, easing assembly of the flush profile, gasket-sealed joints in the liner. The installation was completed with annulus grouting in three lifts using 60-pcf material. Finally, Michael Benza & Associates, a Brecksville, Ohio, engineering firm, tapped Hobas pipe for the emergency rescue of a sagging brick sewer buried with shallow cover under a railroad line at West 98th Street. The existing 78-inch line was badly distorted, so 66-inch OD liner pipes with flush, gasket-sealed joints were inserted on wooden runners and blocked in place. To ensure adequate crown strength to support a railroad load with only five feet of cover, the pipe's liner was designed with a stiffness of 144 psi. Tight installation was ensured by annulus grouting with 65 psi material installed in two lifts.

EPA PLEDGES $4MILLION TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK CLEAN-UP  top

Leaking underground petroleum storage tanks are the latest target of a cleanup campaign by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agency will provide $4million in financial assistance to clean up contamination from leaking underground storage tanks around the nation. The pilot project, called USTfields, involves abandoned or under-used industrial and commercial properties with perceived or actual contamination from petroleum that has leaked from underground storage tanks (USTs). The agency expects to select up to 40 pilot projects to help states and cities clean up these properties and foster redevelopment by returning them to productive economic and public use. An agency official commented "These sites have caused problems that in many cases have very costly solutions. With this pilot money, recipients will be able to accelerate cleanup and return properties to viable use". As of Dec. 22, 1998, all substandard underground storage tanks (USTs) -- those not meeting requirements for spill, overfill, and corrosion protection requirements -- were required by the EPA to be upgraded or closed. But underground tanks at abandoned sites or those that are visited infrequently still have not been dealt with. MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) is found in gasoline and other petroleum fuels that are stored in underground storage tanks. A water-soluble chemical, MTBE is typically added to reformulated gasoline, oxygenated fuel, and premium grades of unleaded gasoline. If MTBE-laced petroleum products leak from underground storage tanks, the contaminant can reach nearby drinking water wells. MTBE remains in underground water for a long time. Drinking or breathing MTBE may cause nausea, nose and throat irritation, and nervous system effects, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. While the substance is not known to be carcinogenic, the EPA and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists have both recommended specific limits on the amount of MTBE that can safely be tolerated in drinking water. The EPA is inviting states, territories, and federally-recognized Indian Tribes as well as eligible intertribal consortia to compete for these pilots. Each selected pilot will receive up to $ 100,000 in Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund monies. The deadline for submitting proposals for the USTfields Pilots is Oct. 22. The announcement of the selected pilot projects will take place by the end of the year. Not all underground storage tank systems are federally regulated, although they may be regulated by the state or local agency. Underground storage tank systems in Indian Country are regulated by the EPA through the regional offices. Some states already have active programs to eliminate leaking underground storage tanks. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's LUST program investigates releases from petroleum tanks. The state has a database of more than 10,000 leaking tank sites. Minnesota personnel evaluate and remove risks to human health and the environment resulting from those releases. The LUST program objective is to ensure clean drinking water and air supplies and safety from explosive vapors.

US INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION "PRESSURED" TO DEFEND DOMESTIC STEEL  top

Representative Pete Visclosky today (August 30) announced that the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) would hold a public field hearing in Northwest Indiana as part of an ongoing investigation of steel imports under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. Visclosky, the Vice- Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, has worked tirelessly in regard to the Section 201 investigation of steel imports. In October 2000, he had the Executive Steel Defense Resolution signed into law to demand that the President initiate an expedited Section 201 investigation. Congressman Visclosky has aggressively pressured ITC to defend the domestic steel industry from the effects of unfairly traded imports. By holding a field hearing in Northwest Indiana, where more steel is produced than in any other region in the United States, ITC will gain important insights into the ongoing crisis in the testimony presented by Visclosky, other local officials and concerned Northwest Indiana residents. Visclosky commented that "The critical oversupply capacity of global steel production is widely known, and it is not expected to diminish. Because of this overcapacity, many nations generally have no other outlet for their steel products except for the United States, because other markets are well protected by anti-competitive systems that discourage or prohibit imports. "However, the ongoing Section 201 investigation is examining the steel crisis across product lines and across borders. Only after a successful investigation has been completed will our domestic producers have a stable environment to complete their transformation and emerge capable of weathering future surges of steel imports." If ITC decides injury has occurred, the Commission recommends specific relief measures that would remedy the injury and facilitate industry adjustment to import competitions. However, the President makes the final decision whether to provide relief and the nature of this relief, meaning that the granting of such relief is discretionary.

2002 AEROSPACE COATINGS REMOVAL AND COATINGS CONFERENCE MAY 6-9, 2002  top

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will host the 2002 Aerospace Coatings Removal and Coatings Conference May 6-9, 2002, at the Adams Mark Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla. The annual conference attracts 200 to 300 military and commercial aircraft fleet maintenance and operations personnel, researchers and original equipment manufacturers. The conference includes technical presentations, exhibits and other events. The conference provides a focus on technical and management issues important to industry as well as the military. It provides a forum for those trying to work on innovative solutions for current issues in the areas of aerospace coatings removals and coatings. Compliance with federal and state environmental regulations is an important challenge in this field. The coatings removal and coatings industry must meet stringent requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency while trying to operate cost effectively, according to Cundiff, an SwRI senior research technologist. Cundiff is also the SwRI technical lead for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Depaint Test Center operations. Technical presentations will be selected by SwRI, the U.S. Air Force Corrosion Prevention and Control Office, and the U.S. Air Force Coatings Technology Integration Office. In past years, topics ranged from technology success stories to environmental regulation impacts to the assessment of current and future technology needs. SwRI has extensive experience in the evaluation of aircraft coatings and paints, application and removal techniques, and paint testing. This is the second year the nonprofit research and development organization has hosted the conference. For more information or to submit a paper, visit the conference Web site at dodconf.swri.org.

GLASS FIBRE MARKET POTENTIAL 'REINFORCED'   top

Demand for glass fibres in the USA will increase by nearly 2% a year to reach about 3 billion kg (6.8 billion pounds) in 2005, corresponding to a value of $ 6.5 billion, according to Freedonia's latest report. Glass Fibers says the greatest opportunities will be in reinforced plastics, where demand will grow by 3.2% a year. The report also finds that:
* opportunities in reinforced plastics will stem from the advantages that glass fibres enjoy compared to competitive materials, particularly their lower weight, corrosion resistance and cost:performance ratio;
* in the fast-growing reinforced plastic market, building products and motor vehicles will remain the leading applications;
* among glass fibre demand in other reinforcement applications, the greatest opportunities are expected in mechanical rubber goods;
* asphalt construction products will continue to account for the largest portion of demand for glass fibres in other non-plastic reinforcement applications, benefiting from above-average growth for laminated shingles;
* glass wool (fibreglass) insulation demand will increase 1.3% annually to 1.8 billion kg (4 billion pounds) by 2005;
* a slowing in residential construction will limit growth prospects for glass fibre insulation--the residential construction market accounts for about 70% of overall demand for glass fibre insulation;
* textile glass fibre demand is forecast to increase by 2.7% a year to reach 1.27 billion kg (2.8 billion pounds) by 2005. This is slower than in 1995-2000, reflecting slower economic growth and saturation in some applications.
The 273-page report costs $ 3700. For further information, contact: Corinne Gangloff; The Freedonia Group Inc, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326, USA; tel: +1-440-684-9600, fax: +1-440-646-0484; E-mail: pr@freedoniagroup.com; Internet: www.freedoniagroup.com

SAFETY BOARD CITES PANTEX 'PITS' FOR PLUTONIUM STORAGE  top

A program at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant designed to guarantee the safe storage of nuclear materials besides plutonium is inadequate, a federal agency says. The process of repackaging plutonium into storage drums at the plant has given rise to concerns about the storage of other nuclear weapons components housed in Pantex bunkers, a letter issued last month from the chairman of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said. In 1999, the safety board recommended that Pantex move its plutonium pits - the nuclear triggers in atomic weapons - into new, safer containers. Most Pantex pits now are kept in drums unsuitable for long-term storage because of corrosion problems. Last year, Pantex repackaged 917 pits and expects to repackage more than 1,750 pits this year. Air Force Gen. John Gordon, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said Pantex has achieved a major safety milestone by repackaging 200 pits a month since April. Dennis Kelly, Pantex's assistant area manager for nuclear materials operations, said Pantex hopes to complete its $60 million pit repackaging task in 2006. Pantex also is working to correct other storage problems cited in the safety board's report, Kelly said. Pantex officials will review potential storage hazards and try to determine how a container will hold up in a specific kind of accident, such as a forklift mishap or fire. John Conway, chairman of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, said the plutonium repackaging work has reduced worker radiation exposures. But the safety board now is questioning Pantex's storage programs for some uranium weapons components and nuclear batteries, Conway said. The safety board's report also said Pantex has not clearly defined all nuclear material storage hazards and that safety analysis of some containers is minimal.

NEW HIGH MELT-TEMPERATURE PVDF  top

The new grade of PVDF copolymer from Atofina demonstrates not only high purity and corrosion resistance but also a high melt temperature. It is for use in rotomoulded components used in chemical handling and high-purity applications.