Industrial Steel Pipes: Three Crucial Tips for Preventing Rusting

Steel pipes are beneficial in industrial setups because they have exceptional mechanical strength and stability. Therefore, if you install these tubes in your building, you will enjoy prolonged service, and the risk of structural damage will be low. Unfortunately, steel pipes will rust when the iron content in the material comes in contact with oxygen and atmospheric moisture or water. This form of corrosion will cause the premature failure of the pipes. If you are concerned about this problem, you should consider using these simple tips when purchasing or ordering your industrial steel pipes.

Purchase Galvanised Pipes

You should purchase galvanised pipes if you are planning on acquiring carbon steel products. Galvanisation is a beneficial process which involves coating the surfaces with zinc. The layer of zinc will prevent the penetration of oxygen and water. Therefore, there will be no chemical reaction resulting in rust. Also, the zinc layer can become a sacrificial anode. Simply speaking, the zinc will be corroded in preference over the steel if they both come in contact with water or other liquid.

Look for Rust-Resistant Designs

You should choose an industrial pipe design which will minimise the probability of surface rusting. In simple terms, your piping should be built in a design which reduces water penetration along the surfaces. It is important to purchase tubes without crevices and cavities. These holes prolong contact between moisture and the metal pipes. You should also design your pipes with welded joints instead of bolting. Bolts trap moisture beneath and damage galvanic coats. You should also install pipes in your building in an area which ensures free air circulation and subsequently, low humidity.

Coat the Industrial Pipes

You should consider covering the interior and exterior surfaces of your industrial pipes with powder coats to prevent rusting. As implied, this type of protective coating is created using a powdered plastic product. The powder will be sprayed evenly over the pipes and then cured using heat. The powder will form a firm and impenetrable layer over the steel. As a result, there will be minimal interactions between air, water and the pipes. However, you should note that this method might not be suitable for some applications. The technique can be limited by the use of the pipes and size of the products. Alternatively, you can use organic coatings like paint.

Finally, you should think about choosing a rust-resistant steel alloy for your industrial pipes. For example, stainless steel pipes are intrinsically resistant to corrosion through they are more expensive than carbon steel.

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