3/24/2009
NEWS BRIEFS
Skiles at SEFA: Corrosion Ups Costs

More than 24% of corrosion could be eliminated with hot dip galvanizing, Paul Skiles told the Southeastern Fastener Association.

Skiles, vice president for sales & marketing at Tennessee Galvanizing, showed a photo of corroded fasteners on the 1903 Williamsburg Bridge in New York City that carried more than 100,000 vehicles and trains per day before a $750 million repair.

“Zinc protects steel,” Skiles declared. “Zinc is a barrier protection.”

Excerpts from Skiles’ presentation at SEFA include:

* Painting over galvanizing increases the life expectancy. Skiles showed the White House gates as an example.

* Some galvanizers have customers bringing in even stainless steel for galvanizing.

* Hydrogen embrittlement is “now rare,” Skiles declared. Coatings manufacturers occasionally receive complaints about hydrogen embrittlement.

* Galvanizing can be RoHS compliant.

* Avoid galvanizers using a chromate quench system, which can be hazardous to employees, customers and end users.

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Related Links:

• SEFA