Quaker Chemical Corp.

Quaker Chemical Corp.’s Michiel van Breemen, technical research manager – EMEA, will present the webinar “Tapping Technology: Simulating Non-Ferrous Cut Tapping & Roll Tapping Performance in the Laboratory” on Oct. 12, 9-10 a.m. EDT, hosted by Automotive Manufacturing Solutions magazine....

Environmental concerns and the associated legislation have put quite a bit of focus on volatile organic compounds and solvent-based coatings. Water-based coatings are making substantial headway in providing viable alternatives that perform well.

Although the causes of corrosion have been researched and documented, advanced tools are helping to expand the understanding of corrosion behavior. Magnification by a scanning electron microscope and analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy are modern tools that help to improve the understanding of corrosion mechanisms.

It’s no secret that Düsseldorf’s biennial tube and pipe expo, TUBE®, is a good way to gauge the industry’s health. The expo is 3 percent larger in 2014 than it was in 2012, and the exhibitors interviewed for this article expect good things from the industry in the coming year. These in-depth perspectives also revealed that upheaval in the U.S. energy industry is leading to changes that will have repercussions for decades.

Applying a corrosion prevention product to steel isn’t enough. If the workpiece is contaminated with something as minor as fingerprints or steel fines, corrosion can get a foothold. Understanding the components that make up a corrosion cell, and how a corrosion cell works, is necessary in learning how to prevent corrosion from getting a start.

Interviews with several TUBE exhibitors revealed that the energy industry remains the biggest driver in the tube and pipe industry. The opportunities aren’t just in oil and gas, but also wind and even nuclear, despite the Fukushima incident. Meanwhile, a few vendors have come up with machines and processes that reduce tube and pipe consumption and waste, helping the industry deal with fluctuating metals prices.

Coatings for tube and pipe can serve as a primer for subsequent painting or they can provide corrosion protection.