Role of National Metallurgical Laboratory in corrosion research

Abstract

The enormous loss caused by corrosion of metals is a great economic concern of the world today. Premature failures of machinery and equipment, structural breakdown, explosion due to leakage of inflammable gas or liquid from corroded pipe lines, contamination of potable water through leakage from sewage lines affect the health of millions of people and bring about losses running into millions. Industrial development multiplies the damages due to corrosion as is evident from the several millions of dollars that are being lost annually in industrially advanced countries. With increasing industrialisation the problem of corrosion and its prevention is rapidly growing in India. The days of corrosion mitigation by 'hit and miss' treatment are now past; greater earnestness in understanding the mechanism of corrosion and a more scientific approach towards protective measures are needed, involving extensive and sustained laboratory and field studies. The national Metallurgical Laboratory has been fully alive to the need of metallurgical researches on extensive work on the causes and effects of this phenomenon. In view of the importance of corrosion in coastal areas and the acute corrosion problems faced by India's growing navy and her sea-going vessels, a Marine Corrosion Research Station has been established at Digha. This unit of the National Metallurgical Laboratory will exclusively deal with problems of corrosion in marine environments. (Dr. T. Banerjee, Scientist-in-Charge, National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur)