BIMETALLIC CORROSION WORKSHOP PRESENTATION ON 01 – 02 JUN 2017
PRESENTATION 01: THE WEAKEST LINK . PRESENTED BY: AFRISUN COATING ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD PRESENTER: DANIEL VAN DER WESTHUIZEN PRESENTATION 01: THE WEAKEST LINK
MOST SERIOUS THREAT TO ASSET OWNERS THE WEAKEST LINK The fate of a complex steel assembly may be determined by the vulnerability of its smallest and least considered components. The bolts or fasteners holding the assembly together are often the areas where corrosion starts first, and where the effects of corrosion may have the most serious consequences MOST SERIOUS THREAT TO ASSET OWNERS
WHY DO BOLTS RUST SO EASILY? Looking at steel bolted systems, we find large components assembled and secured using relatively small nuts and bolts. Such assemblies are found on pipelines, machinery, lattice towers and other metal infrastructure. Wherever they are found — in the joins and most particularly in the bolts — is where the greatest corrosion effects will be found.
AT THE FASTENERS WHERE JOINT IS CLAMPED ALL STRUCTURES MOVE PIPELINES – Pulsation, Vibration & Thermal Fluctuation MACHINERY – Pulsation, Vibration & Thermal Fluctuation LATTICE STRUCTURES – Weight Loads, Thermal Fluctuation, Lateral Deflection (wind) AT THE FASTENERS WHERE JOINT IS CLAMPED
BOLT CORROSION MECHANISMS Differences in corrosion potential, relative size, mixed materials, damage to coatings due to structural “movement” and crevices formed between components affects bolt corrosion Low-alloy steel flange connected to a high-alloy flange using low-alloy bolts and nuts
CROSS-SECTION OF CORRODED NUT & BOLT BOLT CORROSION CROSS-SECTION OF CORRODED NUT & BOLT
BOLT PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION APPLY CONVENTIONAL COATINGS FOR PROTECTION HARD CURING COATINGS CRACK ALLOWING MOISTURE & OXYGEN INGRESS
NUT & BOLT CORROSION
BOLT PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION HOT DIP GALVANIZING OR SHERARDIZING FASTENERS FOR PROTECTION HOT DIP GALVANIZING THREADS OF THE NUT ARE OVERSIZED TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE ZINC BY DOING SO THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF THE BOLT ARE WEAKEND
TENSILE STRESS VS. SHEAR STRESS
LOAD DISTRIBUTION The first two threads hold 57% of the load If the first thread fails, the rest follow in a domino effect
TENSILE STRESS VS. SHEAR STRESS
TENSILE STRESS VS. SHEAR STRESS
TENSILE STRESS VS. SHEAR STRESS Failure occurs in the threads at the fastener’s weakest point, made weaker by oversizing. The amount of tension we can create in a bolt not only depends on the strength of its body but on the shear strength of its threads. Thread pitch engagement needs to be close to 100%, or great enough to allow us to develop the full ultimate strength of the bolt.
BY DEFINITION - FASTENERS - BIMETALS “Bimetallic corrosion occurs when 2 metals, with different potentials, are in electrical contact while immersed in an electrically conducting liquid. Because the metals have different natural potentials in a liquid, a current will flow from the anode (more electronegative metal) to the cathode (more electropositive metal), which will increase the corrosion on the anode.” Corrosion Exclusively Vol.2 Issue 2, 2016 p26.
WHAT CAUSES CORROSION? There is moisture (electrolyte) There is oxygen Multi-metals (fasteners, washers, flanges, welds) ALLOWS THE FORMATION OF A CORROSION CELL
CORROSION CELL COMPONENTS: WATER (H2O) OXYGEN (O2) ELECTRON FLOW (Electric current) Iron (Fe) SACRIFICIAL ANODE
RISKS ASSESSMENT: BY DEFINITION FASTENERS - BIMETALS NUT, BOLT, WASHER, MEMBERS MOISTURE OXYGEN RESULT BIMETALLIC CORROSION
ATHMOSPHERIC VAPOUR PLANTS - DEW METAL - CONDENSATE
DEW POINT TEMPERATURE The dew point temperature is the temperature at which the air can no longer "hold" all of the water vapour which is mixed with it, and some of the water vapour must condense into liquid (water). The dew point is always lower than (or equal to) the air temperature.
CONDENSTATE RUNDOWN
FASTENERS
FLANGES (AIR CONDITIONING)
CAR RENTAL GEORGE AIRPORT
UNDER PIPE SUPPORT CORROSION
SURFACE PIPES
COATED SURFCE PIPES (Bimetals) PIPES & UNDER PIPE SUPPORTS
MEMBER INTERFACES NUTS, WASHERS & BOLTS (Bimetals)
NUTS & BOLTS (Bimetals) FLANGE METAL IS THE ANODE & FASTENER IS THE CATHODE
NUTS & BOLTS (Bimetals) FLANGE METAL IS THE CATHODE & FASTENER IS THE ANODE
DECIDE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ASSETS FASTENERS FLANGES UNDER PIPE SUPPORTS SURFACE PIPES MEMBER INTERFACES JOINTS (WELDS)
I THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I THANK YOU! ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AFRISUN COATING ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD 012 662 0330 / 082 789 2582