Protecting Industrial Facilities from Harsh Environmental Corrosion
In industrial process facilities, corrosion is the biggest single cause of plant and equipment breakdown, including machinery, vessels, structures, supports and pipelines. While atmospheric corrosion in the form of air (oxygen), and water (moisture, humidity, vapor, etc.) is the main culprit, environmental factors including high temperatures and pressures as well as harsh substances, chemicals and gasses can also accelerate the corrosion of carbon steel and other metals.
Beyond marine environments exposed to salt spray or compounds that cause corrosion, common gaseous industrial air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide can be corrosion inducing. So can exposure to industrial chemicals such as chlorides, acetic acid, and formaldehyde.