Corrosion Costs and Maintenance Strategies - A Civil/Industrial and Government Partnership

摘要

Corrosion and its effects have a profound impact on the infrastructure and equipment of countries worldwide. This impact is manifested in significant maintenance, repair, and replacement efforts; reduced access and availability; poor performance; and unsafe conditions associated with facilities and equipment. The primary metric reflecting this impact is cost. A recent study estimates that the annual cost of corrosion in the U.S. alone is 276 billion dollars. Corrosion costs associated with labor, material, and related factors have substantial effects on the economies of industrial nations and, more specifically, on the civil/industrial and government sectors of these economies (Table 1). In the U.S., the corrosion environment, associated experience, corrosion prevention and mitigation practices, and primary decision drivers for controlling corrosion vary between these two major sectors. Until recently there has been little interaction between the civil/industrial and government sectors on the subject of corrosion prevention and control. Organizations such as NACE International have led the way in promoting corrosion control in the civil/industrial sector by developing industry consensus standards and best practices through its training and educational activities. In the government sector, the military has been battling corrosion for many years, and has developed standards and corrosion methods based on unique environments and effects characteristic of each of the services.