When to use anti-corrosion coatings is in many ways a straightforward answer – now. There are many applications wherein anti-corrosion coatings are a solution for saving on costs and avoiding catastrophic disasters. Continue reading this blog to find out more about why corrosion protection is always necessary.
Anti-Corrosion Coatings Explained
Where a component’s surface is exposed to certain environmental conditions, such as moisture, salt spray, or oxidation, the surface area may corrode over time.
Corrosion is a dangerous and costly issue across many industries, as it impacts the strength and integrity of materials. To put this into more of a perspective, corrosion can lead to buildings or bridges collapsing, chemical plant leaks, or oil pipelines breaking. Needless to say, it’s something we are all desperate to avoid.
Anti-corrosion coatings work to prevent the effects of corrosion and rust, by forming a protective barrier between an external environment and a component’s surface. Sacrificial anti-corrosion coatings work by forming a layer over top of the substrate that corrodes sacrificially, protecting the surface underneath.
As a whole, anti-corrosion coatings will prolong the lifespan of components. However, they do require top-ups or some maintenance after an extended period. This is still significantly less maintenance than what would be required if a substrate was left unprotected. For more information, check out our blog The Lifespan of Anti-Corrosion Coatings: How Long Do They Last and How to Maintain Them?
The Importance Of Anti-Corrosion Coatings
According to the NPL website, between maintenance, component replacement, and repairs, corrosion costs the UK economy an estimated £30 billion annually. To say the burden of corrosion is significant would be an understatement. The need to protect our assets is ever-present.
Applying corrosion protection offers a host of long-term benefits that guarantee a significant reduction of costs. They also ensure that operations can continue and lessen the disruptive impact of component failure and maintenance works.
Having protective measures in place can help companies avoid legal liabilities associated with health, safety and environmental issues caused by corrosion. Above all else, corrosion protection can save lives. Structural failure caused by corrosion can be catastrophic.
For more information on the Health and Safety Executive’s regulations on corrosion and materials used for construction, follow this link.
When To Use Anti-Corrosion Coatings: Essential Applications
Industrial Applications
Maintaining equipment for transportation, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries is of paramount importance. Corrosion protection enhances the reliability of operations. Leaks and spills of hazardous substances used in the industrial industry can be extremely detrimental to the environment. Therefore, anti-corrosion protection should be applied imminently, to sustain both the integrity of equipment and efficiency of operations.
Marine Structures
Marine structures must endure an environment that is synonymous with corrosion. By definition, they must be able to withstand the impact of moisture and salt spray. No marine structure can be finished without corrosion protection. Anti-corrosion coatings will mitigate the risk of structural failure, leakage, product degradation, contamination, and in the worst instances, death.
Infrastructure
Corrosion protection is essential for infrastructure components, such as bridges, buildings, pipelines, and roads. Our society relies on these structures to be sturdy and secure. Should corrosion protection not be applied, infrastructure components require constant maintenance, which heavily impacts the economy. Whether it is a new project or an already existing infrastructure, now is the time to administer anti-corrosion coatings.
Automotive & Transportation
The value of vehicles is heavily determined by their appearance and longevity. Rust spots, the deterioration of paint and bodywork, or the premature need for part replacements will significantly deplete a automotives monetary value. Corrosion protection prolongs a vehicle’s lifespan and maintains its aesthetic value. It also ensures driver and passenger safety, by reducing the risk of failing parts or breakdowns.
Aerospace
Aircraft and spacecraft are subjected to inhospitable environments. The safety requirements are extremely stringent, due to the nature of operations and the severe threat of component failure. To be certified for airworthiness, aircraft applications must be corrosion-resistant. Therefore, in the early design stages, anti-corrosion coatings are factored into the conceptualisation of aerospace projects.
Construction
For building and construction applications, anti-corrosion coatings are a necessity from the offset. By administering a protective coating, it maintains the structural integrity of buildings and their components for prolonged periods of time.
Factors That Impact When To Use Anti-Corrosion Coatings
- Environmental Conditions: Any application that is going to be put in a corrosive environment will require protection. This includes any components that are exposed to chemicals, exposure to moisture, or extreme temperature variations.
- Operational Conditions: Anti-corrosion coatings offer protection against mechanical wear. Any surfaces that are susceptible to abrasion need durable coating protection to operate as needed.
- Economic Considerations: If you find that maintenance costs are high due to the impacts of corrosion, being constant maintenance or component replacement, then you must consider corrosion protection. This could ensure a prosperous future for your business.
- Material Type: Specific metals, such as iron and steel, are widely used for their strength. Yet, they are highly susceptible to corrosion. To prevent oxidation or corrosion, and maintain their original qualities and performance, anti-corrosion coatings should be applied before being used operatively.
Anti-Corrosion Coatings From Alphatek
Having come to the end of this blog, we hope you now feel certain about when to use anti-corrosion coatings. Ultimately, if you have an upcoming project, or don’t have anti-corrosion coatings on your ongoing projects, then you should consider acting now.
At Alphatek, we supply numerous applications across various industries with proprietary anti-corrosion coatings. Our bespoke coating solutions have mitigated the effects of corrosion for our clients for over two decades.
If you have any further questions about when to use anti-corrosion coatings or are interested in our services, then please get in touch with us today!
