Corrosion control is a critical issue that engineers must address to maintain the longevity and integrity of structures and equipment. The rate of corrosion is significantly influenced by various environmental factors, which makes understanding —these influences paramount for effective risk management.
Here we demonstrate how different environmental conditions, such as winter weather and coastal environments affect corrosion rates, and why it is essential to engage in adequate practices to mitigate these risks.
Winter-Induced Rust
Winter conditions pose unique challenges to metal structures and components, particularly in regions experiencing harsh winters with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. The presence of moisture, combined with the road salts used for de-icing, accelerates the corrosion process in metal structures. When referring to corrosion rates, an estimated 80 to 200 micrometers of steel can be lost under these circumstances in a year.
The underlying cause is that salt acts as an electrolyte, enhancing the conductivity of water and promoting the electrochemical reactions that lead to the formation of rust. In colder climates, metal surfaces exposed to these conditions can suffer from rapid degradation, compromising structural integrity and safety.
For instance, bridges, railways, and vehicles are especially susceptible to winter-related corrosion. Continuous exposure to salt and moisture can lead to pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking.
For this reason, engineers must implement robust corrosion control measures, such as using protective coatings, cathodic protection, and regular maintenance schedules to combat these effects.
ICE Dragon Corrosion provides you with tailored solutions to monitor and mitigate the impact of winter conditions on infrastructure, ensuring durability and safety.
Susceptibility of Coastal Regions to Corrosion
Coastal environments are characteristically harsh when it comes to metals due to the combined effects of salt spray, high humidity, and fluctuating temperatures.
The presence of chloride ions in saltwater is particularly high. This leads to accelerated pitting and crevice corrosion. Structures such as offshore platforms, ships, pipelines, and coastal buildings are at high risk due to prolonged exposure to these aggressive conditions.
The salty air can penetrate even the smallest cracks and crevices, initiating localized corrosion that can spread rapidly if not properly managed, leading to substantial degradation and expensive machinery losses. As a result, the expected corrosion rate under these conditions can be of at least 200 micrometers lost of steel thickness, and up to 700 micrometers in the utmost extreme cases.
Moreover, marine environments also expose metals to biofouling, where microorganisms attach to surfaces, further exacerbating corrosion. The interplay between these factors demands a comprehensive approach to corrosion risk, engineering, and corrosion management as a whole.
Engineers must consider material selection, protective coatings, and corrosion inhibitors as part of their strategy. Additionally, implementing metric-based monitoring systems to detect early signs of corrosion is crucial for timely intervention and further prevention.
How ICE Dragon Corrosion Helps You Save the Season
Given the complexities and varied environmental influences of aggressive winter storms and ever-changing coastal weather on corrosion rates, partnering with a corrosion management company can be invaluable.
Our use of cutting-edge technologies to extract real-time data (i.e., material weight loss, density, surface area, time) for corrosion monitoring, coupled with technical knowledge about best practices, foster the development of feasible and executable maintenance plans with an individually tailored approach that prioritizes your most critical assets.
By working with ICE Dragon Corrosion, you ensure the efficient allocation of resources, and that your ROI is the highest you can get. Contact us for further information.
