Preventing Corrosion On Steel Structures
Over time, all metals except gold will rust when exposed to water (H2O) and air (O2). We all know how fast cars become rusted when exposed to a coastal marine environment. Steel corrosion is irreversible and permanent. We previously pointed out that the protection offered by industrial floor coatings is akin to covering the floor with dense, long-lasting skin made from inert materials. This article will explain how steel coatings differ from floor coatings by offering protection against the inevitable effects of steel corrosion or, as it’s better known, RUST!
It is crucial to understand how it happens and ways to mitigate the process before your property rusts away into nothingness…The combinative stability of steel and its workability to be trimmed, shaped, or welded has made it an irreplaceable material in the construction industry. However, scientists and engineers had combated steel corrosion since the Industrial Revolution, when large-scale steel production first began on a large scale.
Thankfully, steel corrosion can be mitigated by a careful selecÂtion of corrosion-resistant, protective anti-corrosive coatings.
The steel specified in buildings by architects and engineers can vary considerably, usually depending on practical factors, includÂing budgetary constraints and considerations between cost beneÂfits versus lifespan. The steel used for factory structures such as steel beams, columns, roof sheeting, gutters, wall claddings to door frames (galvanic coated metal) or water pipes and hinges (stainless steel) differs in formulation durability, anti-corÂrosive properties, and naturally, their price points. Mild Steel (MS) is widely used for factory structures but will rust quite quickly compared to stainless steel or electro-plated steel if unprotected. It is prohibitively expensive to use stainless steel or galvanized steel throughout factory structures, hence the need to deliver anti-corrosion steel coatings where MS is generally used.
