Corrosion is a bad word in the water tank industry, as it costs tank owners money.
It is the focus of corrosion engineering specialists who strive to design the best liquid storage vessels that are corrosion-proof, since corrosion costs companies money and can be dangerous, too.
Corrosion Definition
So, what exactly is corrosion? Corrosion engineering services describe it as the natural process in which metal, plastic, and other materials decompose when in contact with water, oil, fuel, and other chemicals.
Corrosion is a chemical reaction that happens between two materials, especially when those materials are exposed to oxygenation.
As water and oxygen are technically chemicals that react with other chemicals, corrosion is frequently little more than oxidation, although this oxidation can be highly destructive over time.
Rusting metal is a prime example of corrosive oxidation, a chemical reaction happening between metal and water when exposed to oxygen.
Corrosion Engineering Explores How to Slow Down Corrosion
Knowing this, corrosion engineering for numerous industries focuses on slowing corrosion to avoid the loss of structural integrity that can eventually happen when materials are allowed to corrode unchecked.
Corrosion can also cause contamination, a definite problem for vessels storing anything for consumption by people or animals.
Therefore, corrosion engineering services are tasked with the development and design of products that can either withstand corrosion or be used to prevent it, like anti-corrosive sealant coatings, coatings that prevent certain chemical reactions by creating a different one, and other methods.
Can The Corrosion Process Be Avoided?
Can corrosion be stopped? Generally not, except when using corrosion-resistant materials.
While materials like stainless steel and certain types of fiberglass and plastic may not corrode in the traditional sense, they can still become damaged by age, usually due to exposure to oxygen.
That technically makes it corrosion, even to the smallest degree.
What is the Answer to Corrosion?
Corrosion engineering services research and experiment to find the best means for water tank manufacturers and their customers to protect their equipment from corrosion in a variety of ways.
Whether that involves choosing a specific material with which to build a tank, developing a specific sealant for interior or exterior protection, or even using techniques like cathodic protection, the goal is always the same.
That goal is always to reduce exposure to oxygen in its various forms so that corrosion can be slowed or prevented.
Can Corrosion Be Stopped?
Corrosion can be slowed, but in most cases, it cannot be stopped.
It is a force of nature that even the best corrosion engineering services will continue to combat as time goes on.