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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
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SURFACE ENGINEERING
CORROSION-PROOF STEEL
A team from Swansea University,
UK, which is developing a new smart
release corrosion inhibitor for use in
coated steel products, is working on an
alternative to hexavalent chromate—a
common corrosion inhibitor facing an
EU ban in 2019. Corrosion inhibitors
are commonly used in a wide range of
sectors, including coated steel products
used to construct industrial, commer-
cial and other buildings; aerospace and
aircraft; and the automobile industry.
The device contains a stored res-
ervoir of corrosion inhibitor. It works
by channeling aggressive electrolyte
anions into the coating, triggering the
release of the inhibitor on demand, thus
preventing corrosion. “The system pre-
vents the onset of corrosion for over 24
hours compared to less than two hours
for the current market leader,” says
Professor Geraint Williams. “We have
demonstrated that the rate of corrosion
can be slowed down significantly once
it has started. This is by far the best
result seen in 15 years of research on
this topic.”
For more information: Ger-
aint Williams, geraint.williams@swan-
sea.ac.uk,
www.swansea.ac.uk.
GLAZING GLASS FOR
GREENER BUILDINGS
The amount of energy needed to
cool and ventilate all-glass buildings
can make them extremely heavy users
of resources—an expense that has
both ecological and economic conse-
quences. This is why glazing technolo-
gies play a critical role in the future of
glass manufacturing and sustainable
urban development.
In an effort to make all-glass build-
ings more sustainable and energy-effi-
cient, assistant professor of mechanical
and materials engineering Adel Gou-
gam of Masdar Institute, United Arab
Emirates, is leading a team that devel-
oped a low-cost glass coating that can
significantly reduce the amount of heat
A steel panel with the new anti-
corrosion treatment after being
exposed to hundreds of hours of
salt spray shows virtually no signs
of corrosion. Courtesy of Patrick
Dodds, Swansea University.
The iconic Aldar Headquarters building
in Abu Dhabi has a panoramic glass
facade glazed with an energy efficient,
low emissivity coating.
that penetrates glass while minimizing
manufacturing costs.
The material used to make this
unique glass coating is metal oxide
based, which when coated on a glass
pane, lets in an ample amount of sun-
light while blocking solar infrared radi-
ation. This technique helps to maintain
a neutral and natural appearance at a
much lower manufacturing cost than
conventional coatings. “By avoiding
the need to repeat the vapor deposition
technique several times, we reduced
the complexity and energy requirement
of themanufacturing process, as well as
the manufacturing cost, contributing to
a more sustainable production process
and product,” says Gougam.
For more
information: Adel Gougam, agougam@
masdar.ac.ae,
www.masdar.ac.ae.
BRIEF
Pipe Restoration Technologies,
Las Vegas, was granted its 15th U.S. patent for the ePIPE epoxy coating system.
The system effectively and safely seals leaks and protects pipes from lead leaching. Pipes as small as 0.5 in. diameter
can be protected from lead leaching and restored by sealing leaks in-place using the minimally invasive technique.
aceduraflo.com.