How to Keep Your Trailers (and Reputation) from Corroding
Tracks
How to Keep Your Trailers (and Reputation) from Corroding By Bernardo Duran III, Coating Performance Engineer, AZZ Galvanizing Services simple options for protecting metal on your trailers from corrosion. Before we start that discussion, let’s first recap the common types of corrosion found on trailers. The first type of corrosion is called general or uniform corrosion, which happens over the entire metal surface, or large portions of it. General corrosion occurs at roughly the same rate over the corroded area, which makes the corrosion rate predictable.
Corrosion on unprotected carbon steel frames.
Corrosion protection on trailers is sometimes left as an afterthought, only considered after a trailer sits in a distributor’s lot or when a customer complaint hits your desk. By then, it may be too late if your trailer already shows signs of corrosion, and your hard-earned reputation might be damaged. Fortunately, you have options. Never before have there been so many effective and affordable corrosion protection options available. Spending a little time upfront considering these options can pay big dividends down the line, for your reputation and your customers’ investments in you and your products. Identifying and Fixing the Corrosion Problem This article is the second in a two-part series. The first article in the series, "Why is My Trailer Corroding?!" discussed common types of corrosion found on trailers and was featured in the March/April 2015 issue of Tracks magazine. In this second article in the series, we pick up where we left off, by discussing
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The second type of corrosion we want to protect against is called localized corrosion, which usually occurs on smaller and distinct areas. The rate of localized corrosion is much less predictable than generalized corrosion, making it potentially more destructive and dangerous. The most common types of localized corrosion found on trailers include crevice, pitting, and galvanic corrosion. Crevice corrosion occurs inside narrow and enclosed areas. Pitting corrosion occurs at defined areas and tends to create cavities on the metal. Galvanic or dissimilar metals corrosion occurs when two or more metals with different electrical potentials are electrically connected in the presence of an electrolyte. The more active and electronegative of the two metals corrodes in place of the less active metal. Corrosion scientists, engineers, and chemists have made great strides in protecting against the basic forms of corrosion described above. In fact, there are multiple affordable choices for corrosion protection today. We are going to discuss three of these choices, including barrier coatings, material selection, and good design practices. Barrier Coatings Barrier coatings are perhaps the most common form of corrosion protection in use today, and can protect metals, wood, and nearly
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