On this day we would like to shed light on corrosion and its (sometimes disastrous) consequences. After all, corrosion is more than ‘red rust’. The annual damage caused by corrosion amounts to about 3 to 6 percent of the gross national product: +/- 465 billion euro worldwide or a worldwide loss of 5 tons of steel per second (!).
Not all material loss due to corrosion can be avoided. Environmental factors play their role.
Steel naturally tends to return to its original ore state because it represents a lower energy state. So if given the chance, it will corrode. This releases the energy added to transform ore into steel and “decomposes” the steel.
However, with smart design and the right choice of materials you can go a long way and prolong the safe service life of your installation. In addition, a risk-based inspection (RBI) can provide insight for larger installations and plants.
Risk based what?
RBI basically boils down to mapping the corrosion risks of the entire installation or plant. Your inspection plan can then be adjusted to the risks identified. Hereby not only safe service life can be prolonged, but also an unforeseen shut down can be avoided.
Prevention
Knowing your installation, gives an advantage in preventing corrosion. But even when damage occurs, there is hope. If you know what caused the damage, you can take take the right actions to prevent further damage in the future.
Like with most things in life, long-term prevention often is the cheaper solution.
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