Ultrasonic is a term used to describe the range of sound waves that possess frequencies higher than that of audible human hearing. Ultrasonic testing (UT), therefore, involves using these sound waves to…
Does zinc rust?
The short to the question is, yes. Zinc does rust. Like all metals, zinc corrodes when exposed to air and moisture. However, this element does not rust like most other metals. Iron,…
Do soluble salts affect paint bonding fiberglass carbon fiber hulls?
The short answer to this question is yes. The presence of soluble salts, particularly sulfates and chlorides, at the paint/hull interface can have detrimental effects on the integrity of the coating system….
What are the benefits of using refractory metals?
Refractory metals are a classification of metallic elements that possess properties that make them more durable and resilient than other standard metals. While the definition of this term varies slightly, one of…
How can I determine and measure steel’s endurance limit?
Fatigue is defined as the damage that occurs in a material due to the repetitive application of loads that may be substantially below its yield point. Most engineering materials contain defects at…
How can I convert corrosion rate between mils per year and mm/y?
A corrosion rate conversion is a technique to change the measurement units of a given corrosion rate to another unit for comparison purposes or a specific engineering application. When converting a corrosion…
How and why should I measure the strength of a protective coating?
Modern industrial processes continue to place heavy demands on tools, equipment and structures. As a result, the protective coatings used to shield these assets must be able to maintain their integrity, particularly…
What are the pros of non-intrusive pressure equipment inspections?
It is essential to perform regular inspections on pressure equipment to ensure that their mechanical and structural integrity meet safety and performance standards. Traditionally, internal visual inspections have been used to assess…
How do self-healing metal oxides protect against corrosion?
Self-healing metal oxide is a term used to describe a special category of metal oxides that are known to exhibit extraordinary corrosion resistance. This term was coined by academics at the Massachusetts…
What are the different Xylan coatings and how do I decide which is best?
Xylan is an industrial dry film lubricant consisting primarily of one or more fluoropolymers including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Figure 1), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). This coating is generally used…