New Survey Shows Permeability A Critical Corrosion Factor

Pittsburgh, PA — According to an independent survey of wastewater engineers, municipal managers and contractors, a chemically resistant lining's permeability to corrosive substances was shown to be the most important consideration during product selection. The survey was conducted in April 2006 by Water Online, a leading service for the water and wastewater industry. The survey was sponsored by Sauereisen, Inc., a third-generation manufacturer of industrial construction materials.

"Because of government mandated industrial pretreatment, longer detention times for waste water due to air quality regulations and other factors, concrete structures in waste water infrastructure are exposed to more severe conditions now than in the past," said Randy Nixon, senior consultant, Corrosion Probe, Inc., a leading engineering and consulting firm in the field of corrosion and material science. "Under these conditions, permeability is perhaps the most prominent factor in the failure of coatings designed to protect concrete from this rapid degradation."

Although approximately 70 percent of those surveyed said permeability to corrosive substances is the most critical factor for chemically resistant linings, more than 64 percent said permeability is the most commonly overlooked aspect of corrosion-resistant lining selection. The study also revealed chemical resistance to be the most important quality of protective linings, with porosity ranked as the number one factor in determining chemical resistance.

"We've been protecting infrastructure for generations and, based on the repeated feedback of our customers, decided it was time to do some research to statistically prove what they've been telling us," said C. Karl Sauereisen, vice president. "This survey demonstrates the importance of a thorough understanding of concepts like permeability, permeance and water vapor transmission."

SOURCE: Sauereisen, Inc.