In any industrial sector, metal and steel structures are required for the construction and operation of factories, bridges, buildings, oil, gas and energy applications, etc. It is very important to properly maintain and treat such industrial facilities against various forms of wear and damage.
One of the best known forms of wear and tear is corrosion, specifically rust. In industry, corrosion is a process that can cause a lot of damage with dire consequences. It is not always easy to recognize corrosion until the deterioration on the metal surface is well advanced.
What causes corrosion?
The most common form of corrosion on metal surfaces occurs through a reaction of the metal with oxygen and water present in the air. This can cause the metal to rust or, in the case of copper, turn green. In addition, corrosion can also occur due to a moist environment, at high temperatures where condensation is created. For industrial steel structures, corrosion can occur from exposure to air, water and soil when the metal is not protected by an anti-corrosion coating.
Air pollution also has an impact on the deterioration of metal structures due to corrosion. For example, such industrial facilities corrode more often in the winter when pollution levels are highest. Air pollution has everything to do with higher emissions from power plants, heating systems and vehicles.
Effect of corrosion on metal
Whatever the cause of corrosion on your metal structures and whatever form the corrosion takes, it always causes considerable damage on your industrial facilities. The damage depends on, among other things:
- The chemical environment
- The construction in which the metal is used
- The way the metal is processed or possibly machined
- The way the chemical environment stresses the metal (stationary or flowing)
- The construction material (the type of metal)
In general, metal structures located in a humid environment will rust. In addition, corrosion causes loss of strength in the industrial plant because the salts and oxides that cause the corrosion are much weaker than the metal. They crumble which makes the metal surface thinner and thinner.
Moreover, the oxides and salts in corrosion are also a lot larger in volume which makes them occupy more space than the original metal. The expansion of the corrosion substances dislocates the industrial plant and makes it unstable.
Implications for your industrial metal structures
Due to the effect of corrosion on the metal of your industrial facilities, the consequences can be large and of various kinds. We briefly list the main risks:
- Risk of injury or accidents to your personnel due to structural instability or mechanical fractures
- Cessation of all work due to damage to equipment, process unit or assembly
- Loss of productivity and thus profitability
- Contamination of the products used
- Contamination of the environment
- Loss of customers due to inability to deliver products and services (on time)
- Unfavorable publicity and a bad image due to an unprofessional way of working with danger to personnel, environment and surroundings.
Failure to protect your industrial metal structures can therefore have a solid impact on your infrastructure, operations, productivity and profitability. It is therefore crucial that you take the necessary measures regarding anti-corrosion protection to avoid such consequences.
Would you like to learn more about corrosion on your industrial metal structures or are you looking for the most appropriate way to protect your facilities from rust and other forms of corrosion? Then take contact us! Our experts will review with you the various options regarding corrosion control and treating industrial plants by metallizing and coating.