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Quality Heat
Technologies (Australia) SRI International (USA) and Gas Technology Institute (USA)
collaborate to introduce new surface engineering treatments for dramatically
improving the corrosion resistance of ferrous materials.
Melbourne
Australia - January 21st
2002
Quality Heat Technologies, a world leader in fluidised bed reactor technology,
today announced that it has developed a new suite of industrial equipment under
the brand name of Qab, for application of
surface engineering treatments to dramatically improve the corrosion
resistance of metals.
The Qab equipment combines QHT’s patented technologies in fluidised bed
reactor design and the proprietary coating chemistry developed by SRI and GTI.
The combination of the chemistry and fluidised bed technology, which is
based on diffusion of metallic elements such as chromium into the base metal,
opens up a completely new field of surface engineering treatments for the metal
user over a broad spectrum of applications.
One of the processes under Qab is Qchrome, which significantly improves the corrosion resistance of
low-grade stainless steels in high temperature applications and expands the
limits at which stainless steels can operate in corrosive environments.
Another process, Qsil, significantly
improves the corrosion resistance of low grade carbon and alloy steels and has
potential to replace coatings which are currently in use, and at the same time
satisfy the most stringent environmental regulations.
Corrosion of metallic materials and their replacement costs account for
approximately 4% GDP of industrialised countries. Any process that can decrease
the rate of corrosion will significantly contribute to savings in a wide
variety of applications and industries.
About Quality
Heat Technologies
Quality Heat Technologies Pty Ltd (QHT) Australia, (www.qualityheat.com.au) is an acknowledged
world leader in the design of fluidised bed reactors for metal processing.
Established in 1989, QHT has developed equipment for the heat and surface
treatment of metals, as well as developing new processes in the fields of
carburising and nitriding. Equipment
supplied varies from simple laboratory models to large automated plants
operating unattended under computer control. QHT equipment is currently operating
in 15 countries worldwide.
About SRI
International
Silicon Valley based SRI International (www.sri.com) is one of the world’s leading independent research and
technology development organizations.
Founded in 1946 as Stanford Research Institute, SRI has been meeting the strategic needs of
global markets for more than 55 years.
As a part of its strategy to bring its technologies to the marketplace,
SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships and creates
spin-off companies.
About Gas Technology
Institute
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) (www.gastechnology.com) is based in the
Chicago area and is an independent not-for-profit technology organization that
provides products, programs, information and services related to energy and the
environment, with a focus on production, delivery, use and environmental
aspects of natural gas.
About Qchrome
Suggested applications of Qchrome include
advanced chillers, modulating heat exchangers with condensation, furnace
and boiler tubes and other potential applications for pharmaceutical, food
processing and oil & gas industry. A sample has been tested in an actual performance
setting where a coated tube was welded to an AL6XNÒ bracket and immersed in a high
temperature (230oC) molten salt solution. The sample was left in the solution for
3,000 hours. When the evaluation
was completed, the coated sample had no discernable corrosion whatsoever,
even within an intentional crevice where the AL6XNÒ bracket was welded. The bracket was slightly discoloured;
the coated tube exhibited no noticeable discolouration. Similar results obtained for AL29-4C. Coated
409 stainless tube welded to AL6XNÒ
bracket experimental sample after experiment.
Representative
Comparison of
Corrosion
Rates
|
Material |
Corrosion
Rate (mpy) |
||
|
409 Stainless Steel |
Above
sample. No corrosion near
intentional crevice. Notice
discolouration of AL6XNÒ |
||
|
AL6XNÒ |
2.4 |
||
|
Qchrome409 |
0.01 |
For further
information contact:-
Ray Reynoldson
Quality Heat Technologies Pty Ltd
34 Gilbert Park Drive
Knoxfield Vic 3180
Phone 61 3 9759 9100
Fax 61 3 9764 8211
Left to
right: 409 stainless tube,
diffusion coated tube, post-experiment coated tubes.
Email rreynoldson@qualityheat.com.au