Using a nitric and hydrofluoric acid-based protective coating, the technology is proven to delay corrosion on welding parts of stainless steel pipes used for drinking water transport. (image: Kobizmedia/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul Waterworks Research Institute has succeeded in developing a new technology to prevent stainless steel corrosion after four years of research efforts. It has already applied for a patent for the technology and will soon begin a research project for commercialization jointly with POSCO.
Using a nitric and hydrofluoric acid-based protective coating, the technology is proven to delay corrosion on welding parts of stainless steel pipes used for drinking water transport. If the technology is widely adopted, city authorities will no longer have to apply the coat to the welding parts in regular intervals. In addition to steel pipes, water mains made of concrete walls that must be coated once a year or two to prevent corrosion from the chlorine in the water will also benefit.
The institute has conducted experiments from 2010 by putting more than 1,000 chlorine-tainted steel pipe pieces in filtration plants, water reservoirs, and grounds. In addition, it evaluated the bio-safety of water storage tanks made of different materials including concrete, epoxy-coated concrete, and stainless steel-coated concrete. Of these, the institute found, the last one turned out to be most sanitary as it keeps water slime from forming.
The institute had the results in four articles published on journals run by the International Society of Electrochemistry and the Electrochemical Society. The joint research project with POSCO is intended to verify the results before the final stage of commercialization. On October 27, the Seoul Waterworks Research Institute and the steel maker signed an agreement for joint work at the company’s global R&D center in Incheon’s Songdo Business District.
By Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)
