How does rust form?
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How does rust occur and how can you prevent it?
Rusting is common, this can be a problem for companies that work a lot with such things as buffer tanks or other machinery. Rusting is also known as oxidizing, or oxidation. Understanding how rust forms and finding ways to prevent it can save a lot of costs and extend the life of your equipment and machinery. Below we take a closer look at the causes of rust, its impact, and how to prevent rusting.
What is rust and how does it form?
Rust occurs when iron or steel reacts with oxygen in the presence of water or moisture. This chemical reaction leads to the formation of iron oxide (rust), a reddish-brown layer that weakens the metal’s structure. Rusting occurs mainly in high humidity and in environments where metal surfaces come into frequent contact with water – something that is common in agriculture and horticulture, for example, due to irrigation systems and weather conditions.
What are the dangers of rust in your business?
Rust not only affects appearance, but it also affects the safety and efficiency of your equipment. Rusty machinery can wear out faster, fail, or even pose a safety risk to employees. Timely prevention of rust helps keep equipment usable longer, reduce breakdowns, and reduce maintenance costs.
How is rust preventable?
Preventing rust is important to ensure the durability of your apprates. Here are some effective measures you can take to prevent rust:
- Regular maintenance: Check your equipment regularly for rust spots and treat them if necessary. Timely removal of rust can prevent further spread.
- Use of protective coatings: One of the most effective ways to prevent rusting is to treat metal surfaces with a protective coating. This coating forms a barrier against water and air, slowing down rust formation. Something like this is also called inerting.
- Avoid prolonged moisture contact: Try not to expose metal structures to moisture for too long. Place machinery and other metal parts in dry storage areas when not in use.
Rust prevention and oxidation prevention of Presscon
At Presscon we offer solutions to combat rust effectively. We use nitrogen instead of oxygen. The absence of oxygen prevents rust from forming. Curious about our oxidation prevention? Our experts are ready to answer all your questions.
Preventing rust in horticulture
Heat buffer tanks are widely used in horticulture. It is important to protect these tanks from rust. At Presscon, for example, we recommend inerting a complete heat buffer tank with nitrogen to seal it off from oxygen. And as we now know, without the presence of oxygen we can prevent rusting.
Rust prevention against dryer sprinkler piping
Rusting in dry sprinkler lines can be effectively prevented by using nitrogen as a protective gas. Nitrogen is an inert gas that, unlike oxygen-rich air, does not cause oxidation. Filling the pipes with nitrogen instead of air significantly reduces the chance of corrosion. It is also important to keep the moisture content in the system as low as possible. This can be achieved with drying systems or adsorption dryers, which ensure that moisture does not have a chance to cause rust. Finally, a slight overpressure in the system can help keep out air and moisture from outside, providing additional protection against oxidation.
Preventing rust during soldering
In brazing, the prevention of rust is crucial to ensure the quality and durability of the final product. During wave, selective and reflow soldering, rusting can also occur due to oxidation of metal surfaces. The use of nitrogen is again an effective solution here.
By creating a nitrogen atmosphere, oxygen is displaced, preventing oxidation during the soldering process. This results in stronger joints, better solder quality and a reduction in defects. Presscon offers advanced nitrogen generators that ensure a constant and pure nitrogen supply, specially tailored to the requirements of modern soldering processes.
