One of the few certainties in life is that iron will rust. The same can be said for some types of steel, as steel is an alloy that typically contains up to 97% iron. Dr Giuseppe Scatigno, was recently featured in The Marine Insurer Journal with his article: ‘Hull Corrosion Protection’. Giuseppe explains how corrosion occurs, and discusses some of the common methods used to protect corrosive steel products in the shipping industry, as well as the tools that an investigator would use to determine the cause of corrosion.
Giuseppe explains that the familiar orange rust we see on metallic components is one of the corrosion products of iron. As the iron alloy corrodes, material is lost until the component, from an engineering perspective, is no longer able to perform as designed. He adds that different environments are more aggressive than others, and seawater, laden with salts, enhances the conductivity of water, speeding up the development of corrosion products. However, there are commercially viable engineering solutions available to help protect steel that is permanently exposed to seawater against corrosion, to ensure that seafaring operations can be carried out safely.
Such solutions include applying layers of appropriated coatings and employing an active protection system known as Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP). ICCP uses a power source to drive a protective electrochemical reaction that suppresses corrosion, reversing the normal corrosion reaction.
Giuseppe includes a recent case study and explains how Hawkins’ investigators can help in establishing liability. By performing inspections and analysing data, such as ICCP data and ultrasonic thickness testing, they can determine how and when degradation started. This can help the ship owner and insurer to understand where the liability lies, ensuring that the claim is handled quickly and effectively. Giuseppe’s article is available to read in full on page 50 of The Marine Insurance Journal.
Dr Giuseppe Scatigno is a corrosion and materials engineering expert with Hawkins & Associates. He specialises in corrosion, materials and mechanical engineering failures. He has provided expertise on cases worldwide regarding materials science & metallurgy, failure modes in metals, and structural integrity. His experience spans industries including nuclear, oil & gas, and renewables and he has published over 20 conference and journal papers on his academic research, contributing to the corrosion management of new-build nuclear plants in the UK.
If you have an incident involving corrosion or a potential materials defect and may need the help of a materials expert, get in touch with us to discuss how we may be able to help.
