This new two-day conference focused on the use of polymers (including thermoplastics, thermosets, rubbers, reinforced plastics and coatings) in aggressive and/or corrosive environments.

Aggressive chemical environments are surprisingly common, and not just in the pipe or chemical industries. Cleaning fluids, solvents, aircraft and vehicle oils and fuels, bleach, oxidising agents, acids and alkalis present a corrosion threat. Even ordinary water and steam can induce damage over time.

Plastics and reinforced plastics can resist some of the chemicals that are most damaging to metals, although they may be susceptible to stress cracking as a result of the combination of stress and chemicals. There may be deterioration in their mechanical properties as a result of swelling by the liquid. Food packaging, landfill membranes and medical devices also need to be able to withstand the processes of permeation and diffusion. Even coffee machines operate almost continuously in demanding environments.

Polymer coatings can be used to protect metal substrates. Rubber products are sometimes deployed in corrosive situations, often requiring careful choice of the elastomer. It is desirable for all these corrosion resistant materials to be able to withstand a wide range of operating temperatures as well as corrosive chemicals.

The range of expert presentation presented aimed to discuss these issues.


SESSION 1: MATERIALS

Paper 1 Chemical resistance behaviour of high performance resins
Sandra Klein Nagelvoort, DSM Composite Resins, The Netherlands

Paper 2 Recent developments in glassflake technology
Graham Greenwood-Sole, Corrocoat Ltd, UK

Paper 3 Increasing the chemical stability of polymers in aggressive and corrosion environments
Oleg L Figovsky, Israel Research Centre - Polymate, Israel

Paper 4 Melt processable fluoropolymers: high performance materials for corrosive environments
Brigitte Neubauer, Solvay Solexis SpA, Belgium

Paper 5 Synthesis of 2, 5 bis (2,2dicarboxyethyl) tiophene) and different corrosion and heat resistant polyamides
Davood Habibi, Bu Ali Sina University, Iran

Paper 6 Unexpected failue of high-quality FRP process equipment causedby stress corrosion cracking
Gunnar Bergman, Swedish Corrosion Institute, Sweden

Paper 7 Encapsulation of radioactive wastes in polymeric materials
Joanne Hill, United Kingdom Nirex Ltd, UK

Paper 8 A comparative study of the uniform and stress corrosion resistance of different glass-fibres types/laminates in acid and alkaline environments at different concentrations and temperatures
Stefanie Rmhild, Swedish Corrosion Institute, Sweden

Paper 9 New techniques for determining diffusion and permeation of acids, chlorine and chlorine dioxide in thermoplastic liner materials
Karin Jacobson, Swedish Corrosion Institute, Sweden

Paper 10 PPS: an outstanding resistance to a wide variety of aggressive chemical environments
Walter Gerts, Chevron Phillips Chemicals International, Belgium

SESSION 2: APPLICATIONS

Paper 11 Corrosion within sewer systems and dramatic lift station rehab in Louisiana
Gregory M Severyn, Sauereisen Inc, USA

Paper 12 GFRP rebar durability as a function of engineering and pore structure characteristics
Sultan S Al-Salem, University of Leeds, UK

SESSION 3: BARRIER LAYERS AND COATINGS

Paper 13 Fluoropolymeric coatings: the right solution for corrosive environments
Matteo Vecellio, Solvay Solexis SpA, Italy

Paper 14 Novel conjugated polymer based on derivatives of poly(phenylene vinylene) as corrosion protective coatings in marine environments
Peter Zarras, NAWCWD (Code 4T4220D), USA

Paper 15 Improved flexibility of bis phenol a epoxy paint by crosslinking with amino-functional siloxane resin
Donna Perry, Dow Corning Ltd, UK

Paper 16 Corosion Control with vented/tented coatings
Mark F Mosser, Sermatech International Inc, USA

Paper 17 ETFE Powders for anticorrosive coatings
Satoshi Yamamoto, Asahi Glass Co Ltd, Japan

Paper 18 As Margerine is a substitute for butter, plastic could be a substitute for metal
Huw Williams, Serfilco GmbH, Germany

Paper 19 EVOH resins, a protective layer against chemicals
Didier Houssier, Eval Europe NV, Belgium