How To Protect Your Pipelines From Corrosion

5 Ways To Prevent Pipeline Corrosion

If you’re responsible for an engineering project or manage a pipeline, you’re probably in constant dread of pipe corrosion. We understand! Pipe corrosion can result in astronomical costs for corporations, while also stalling production, causing injuries, risking the lives of employees, leading to environmental hazards, and creating chaos within a company as an urgent problem must be quickly resolved. Additionally, pipe corrosion is difficult to spot with the naked eye and may not be noticed until serious damage or injury has already occurred.

However, pipe corrosion doesn’t have to be a constant fear. With commercial products from your US Southwest pipeline corrosion protection products distributor, you can keep your pipelines in good condition while saving money throughout the process. Keep reading to learn more about how we can help!

What Is Pipe Corrosion?

Pipe corrosion is simply a breakdown in piping that occurs through exposure to the elements, chemical reactions, or contact with chemical components of materials that are transported through the pipeline. If you’ve ever seen a rusty pipe that looks eaten away or worn down, you’ve seen pipe corrosion. This can be a nightmare for anyone who works with piping, but is especially harmful, dangerous, and expensive for large commercial pipelines who carry oil and other materials. Corrosion causes serious damage to the integrity of a pipeline, leaving the risk of leaks, breakage, and material spill when the weakened material finally gives way.

What Causes Corrosion?

Multiple things can ultimately cause pipe corrosion, but the most simple cause is contact with a solution. Pipelines are continually exposed to water, oxygen, bacteria, chemicals, and other metal. Each of these can be responsible for causing corrosion when conditions are right.

At its core, corrosion is a chemical reaction that weakens and thins metal. When one piece of metal loses its electrons and becomes weakened, the metal becomes vulnerable to other chemical reactions, which can cause rust, cracks, holes, and other damage. This is bad news for pipelines because corrosion will continue to happen. Once corrosion begins, it only gets worse.

The good news is that there are solutions from your US southwest pipeline corrosion protection products distributor that can fix the problem and even prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some of our top recommendations for protecting your pipelines from corrosion:

Watch Out For Water

Water is a primary source of corrosion in pipelines, especially in pipes that are made of copper, where water with a low pH level can damage the lining of the pipes. If you run water through your pipelines at any point, be sure its pH is between 6.5 and 8.5 to protect your pipelines. We also recommend monitoring oxygen levels in water. Oxygen causes rust, buildups, and blockages. Finally, keep water temperatures low whenever possible. The higher the temperature of the water, the more corrosive it tends to be.

Keep Your Pipelines Clean

Some types of corrosion occur when metal pipelines are exposed to specific types of bacteria. Keep your pipes clean, especially when they are in contact with sulfides. Ask your US southwest pipeline corrosion protection products distributor for inhibitors, biocides, and chemical treatments that can protect your pipelines from bacteria and other contaminants.

Protect The Metal

One of the most crucial steps to protect your pipelines from corrosion is the use of protective linings or coating products that line the interior of your pipeline, protecting the metal from bacteria, chemicals, water, and other elements that lead to corrosion. Your US southwest pipeline corrosion protection products distributor can provide personalized recommendations for your pipelines depending on what materials you are transporting. It’s especially important that sealant be carefully applied to the joints, crevices, and seams of your pipeline so it can work effectively.

Ensure Stability

Movements such as friction, bouncing, and jiggling wear metal down. When metal pipelines and joints begin to become worn out, weak points will form, providing the perfect space for corrosion to begin. Ensure the stability of your pipes and pipelines through restraints as an important step to protect it from corrosion.

Prevent Contact With Other Metals

Not all metals should be in contact with other metals. Galvanic corrosion can happen when one type of metal pulls electrons from another, weakening both and leaving your pipeline at serious risk. Your US southwest industrial coatings supplier can help you insulate and protect your metal pipes to prevent this from happening.

Are You Looking To Protect The Integrity Of Your Pipelines?

If you’re looking to protect your pipes from corrosion, schedule your consultation with B&W Distributors. As one of the nation’s leading suppliers of commercial grade epoxy, pipeline coatings, and other industrial coatings, we have the solutions you need. Our outstanding customer service representatives are ready to answer your questions, discuss your needs, and direct you to the most effective products that will strengthen the reliability of your pipeline. To learn more about how we can help prevent corrosion,contact us today!