Simon Norton from Chemical Investigation Services( CIS ), experts in corrosion & failure investigation with specialised expertise in stainless steels, has been retained by Paterson & Cooke consulting engineers to report on the corrosivity of mine water at a central African mine. At the same time Mr Norton has also been advising them on the use of stainless steels in contact with dissimilar metals at the same mine as part of the design process.
It has often been the case that designers forget the galvanic corrosion potential when connecting dissimilar metal alloys immersed in an electrolyte. Based in South Africa, CIS has extensive experience in advising clients on corrosion and, in particular, galvanic corrosion. Stainless steels are interesting metal alloys as they can show differing properties in galvanic corrosion dependent on being active or passive.
