Development and Applications of a Specialty Nickel-Based Alloy and the Need for Corrosion Education

Abstract

High-performance Nickel-based alloys are proven to be reliable, cost-effective corrosion control measures in many industries (e.g., Chemical/Petrochemical Processing, Pharmaceutical, Oil and Gas, Pollution Control, Energy,…). These alloys’ resistance to corrosion (uniform, localized and stress cracking) and the role of alloying elements (Cr, Mo, W and Fe) are reviewed. The design concepts of a cost-effective corrosion-resistant alloy are presented in terms of optimum resistance to various forms of degradation, along with test data illustrating its improved resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion and to chloride/H₂S stress cracking and hydrogen embrittlement. The increasing cost of maintenance/downtime, the concerns about the reliability of equipment along with the emphasis on the safety of personnel, the protection of the environment and sustainability are leading to greater awareness about the deleterious impact of corrosion. Design and Process Engineers, along with Maintenance Managers, are entrusted to ensure (from a corrosion perspective) that the “correct” materials selection and corrosion mitigation technologies are implemented upfront, at the design stage. Hence, there is a need for an engineering workforce, educated in the corrosion science fundamentals and trained in the applied corrosion engineering mitigation techniques. Such engineering workforce will be provided through a Bachelor of Science degree in “Corrosion and Reliability Engineering” (the first such degree in the USA) to start in the fall semester of 2010, at the University of Akron. Details are presented on the curriculum development, corrosion content, courses’ sequencing and industrial interest/support.