SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Corrosion Science and Engineering

	Using laser Raman Spectroscopy, SwRI scientists study the fundamental mechanisms of corrosion.

Experienced corrosion engineers and scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) provide technical assistance for evaluating material performance in complex industrial and subsurface applications and perform research related to corrosion risk assessment and mitigation. Multidisciplinary teams provide timely and cost-effective solutions to any corrosion problem, including:

• High-temperature oxidation and corrosion processes

• Microbially influenced corrosion

• Corrosion characteristics

• Corrosion monitoring

• Surface metrology

• Stability

• Life prediction

• Safety of chemical and waste treatment processes

• High-strain-rate material behavior

• High-speed machining

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The technical expertise of our staff is complemented by extensive state-of-the-art test facilities and instrumentation, such as:

• DC and AC polarization systems

• Raman spectroscopes and microscopes

• Capillary electrophoresis and other microanalytical equipment

• Microbial test facilities

• High-pressure and high-temperature autoclave systems

• A variety of mechanical test systems

• Atmospheric corrosion, salt fog, cyclic wet-dry test chambers

• Electron microscopes, scanning Auger spectroscope, and X-ray diffraction

• Atomic force microscope

• Surface metrology

SwRI Corrosion Expertise

In addition, SwRI has built many customized test facilities to study complex systems and environments. Specific areas of corrosion expertise at SwRI include:

• Life prediction of systems undergoing corrosion and stress corrosion cracking

• Risk assessment and maintenance optimization calculations

• Corrosion sensor development

• Coating and inhibitor evaluation

• Nanostructured Cu-Cr coatings development

• Microencapsulation of corrosion inhibitors and biocides

• Development of instrumented coupons for disbonded coating studies

• Failure analysis and on-site assistance related to corrosion control technologies

SwRI staff recently co-authored the book, Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring, which was edited by Lei Yang and published by Woodhead Ltd.

For more information about corrosion science and engineering capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, contact Dr. Keith Axler at kaxler@swri.org, (210) 522-2951 or Dr. Gary Walter at gwalter@swri.org, (210) 522-3805

 

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Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions.

September 16, 2009