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CORE EXPERTISE

ELEVEN QUESTIONS

SERVICES

 I- INVESTIGATIVE

     FUEL

     PLASTICS 

    OILS AND FAT

     WATER/AIR

     CORROSION

     EMULSIONS

  SEPARATION SCIENCE

     RESEARCH

 II- ANALYSIS TECH

 III-CONTRACT TESTING

     BIODIESEL/DIESEL

     GLYCERIN 

      B100  FEEDSTOCK   

      FATS AND OILS

  IV-ENVIROSCIENCE

      WATER SYSTEMS

      ODORS/AROMA 

     PROCESSES

PROJECTS

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CORROSION DEPOSIT ANALYSIS LABORATORY AND SOURCE IDENTIFICATION INVESTIGATIONS

Corrosion is one of the most damaging environmental processes. The costs of corrosion are staggering-hundreds of billions of dollars per year in the US alone*. We use our laboratory and field technology observations to guide us in finding the source of corrosion deposits caused by exposure to air or water born corrosive agents. The source of corrosion can originate locally or at distant locations, such as is the case in most forms of acid rain. Corrosion can also be caused by microbial conversions that result in the formation of corrosive agents.  Knowing the cause can result in a clear course to correct the condition, and we get to the root cause.  For water system corrosion and chemistry, click here. 

DEPOSIT FORMATION

The exposure of materials to environments that contain even traces of corrosives for extended time periods can lead to excessive cosmetic repair expenses, damage to artifacts and relicts, structural weaknesses, catastrophic failures and dangerous conditions.    We can assist your efforts to establish the cause of such failures by on-site and laboratory examinations of the corrosion deposits.    Laboratory analysis can provide definitive answers through the identity of corrosive agents, the type of corrosion process, and an evaluation of possible sources.  Laboratory analysis is the first step toward identification of the cause.  

TYPES OF CORROSION

We have analyzed and evaluated numerous types of corrosion related incidents, including those associated with piping and storage tanks.   We analyze deposits caused by: vapors generated by industrial processes that thermally decompose substances to form acidic entities; those generated by hot,  humid storage conditions; building products, acid rain and air pollution; sewer gases; out gassing from plastics and polymers; migration of corrosive substances through plastic barriers;  the oxidative deterioration of various organic substances: and unchecked microbial growth.    Corrosive agents can then weaken the structural integrity or conductivity of e.g. copper, stainless steel, aluminum or nickel, causing electrical failures, or just damaging the surface appearance of a valuable artifact.   Once the deposits and corrosion products are identified, possible sources can be evaluated leading to a solution.  

TEMPERATURE

High temperatures in furnaces and operating electronic devices can lead to the vaporization of otherwise non volatile substances.   This can cause substances to move to cooler regions and deposit or react with materials in an unwanted fashion, leading to a weakening of the material. 

FUELS, FATS AND OILS

Fuels, fats and oils can become corrosive through various degradation processes that produce corrosive acidic substances.   But acids aren't the only corrosive agents.  Various complexing agents and bases that alter fundamental redox equilibria can become active corrosives.  Corrosion processes can also impact plastic articles in contact with various metals.  For addtional information on how we can help evaluating such scenarios, give us a call. 

WATER

We have examined numerous metal piping corrosion incidents associated with aggressive water chemistry.   For example, the potability of drinking water can be compromised by:  natural variations in water chemistry conditions and usage patterns that attack copper pipe or lead solder surfaces, possibly leading to violations of the lead and copper rule for drinking water; microbial growth; or inappropriate water treatment packages.  Also, the quality of high purity water transported by stainless steel piping is susceptible to a variety of conditions, including microbial induced corrosion, that lead to less than desirable water quality.   

Give us a call to assist in getting to the bottom of your corrosion headache !  Some of the services we offer in this arena are: 

Product Failure Investigations 

Deposits Analysis

Source Identification

Water Chemistry

Water Born Particulates

Debris Analysis 

Air Analysis for Corrosives or Corrosive Precursors 

Material Analysis

*National Association of Corrosion Engineers supported study.