Researchers in Russia Develop Digital System to Facilitate Energy-Efficient Application of Anti-Corrosion Coatings
Metal corrosion is a crucial problem for technical systems, such as cars, ships, and airplanes, and infrastructure objects, such as bridges, power line towers, and cellular towers. Their collapse can lead to significant losses and threaten safety, making development of new ways to combat corrosion a vital task. Researchers at the Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University, LETI, have developed a “digital twin” that will form the basis for creating energy-efficient equipment for applying protective coatings to metal structures of any size using strong electromagnetic fields.
One of the most effective methods of applying corrosion protection coatings is thermal diffusion galvanizing. It can be used to coat metal with a thin layer of zinc (no more than 150 microns), which is firmly embedded into the material structure and significantly increases the durability of steel and cast-iron products in aggressive environments, such as cold, humidity, and seawater. However, the technological process is difficult to control, especially when coating large objects. In addition, the environmental conditions in which galvanizing is performed, such as high temperature and pressure, must be maintained. These factors lead to a higher cost and longer duration of the production of these coatings and materials.