TPI July 2013

Corrosion prevent ion

The corrosion-resistant properties of tubing from a state-of-the-art mill tend to forestall the stark necessity of choosing between repair and replacement of a corroded section. but when otherwise sound tubing is found to be losing thickness due to corrosion, corrective action will usually be considered and — if production and equipment maintenance schedules permit – implemented. a boiler tube, for example – highly developed, expensive, indispensable in thermal power plants – would not be sacrificed without a fight. solutions might include ceramic cladding with uTex 6-040 or 6-041; spraying with HVas or HVoF processes; or application of a corrosion-resistant weld overlay. a different approach is called for in the highly unlikely event that corrosion is identified in a product made from tubing. almost certainly this would signal the approaching end of a long and successful service life, and dictate honourable retirement.