Introducing “Huh?” and Problem-Solving Study #1

Introducing “Huh?” and Problem-Solving Study #1

A new problem-solving and educational forum: compliments of CCG.

As followers of our blog know (and welcome to anyone new who has absolutely nothing better to do with their time than read our blog), we are manically devoted to all things which lead to optimal decisions and outcomes, particularly in relation to corrosion, coatings and optimal material selection and practices.

And as you can imagine, having worked on everything from circuit boards to 50-ton sculptures, porcine pancreas storage tanks, and everything in between for over 40 years, we encounter some really interesting and challenging corrosion mitigation, material selection, and other challenges.  

So, from time to time, we will be sharing with you problem-solving studies for your consideration and discussion.  These are real-life issues faced by CCG clients, or situations we’ve read about – or general issues that are of interest.  Please feel free to submit problem-solving studies to us for publication.

We’ve devoted many agonizing seconds of effort and came up with the brilliant name for the blog, which is called “Huh?”  

To make it interesting, and knowing and appreciating that your time is valuable, we will be providing a $100, $50 and $25 gift card for first, second and third “best*” answers, received within five days of blog publication.  We will also publish the winners (and photos, if the winner prefers) and answers in the following blog.

*Many of these blogs will not have a “correct” answer, but only opinions as to which alternatives are better than others.  Please be patient with us if we don’t pick your answer, subjectivity is, well, subjective.

I hope you enjoy!

Huh? Problem-Solving Study #1 stainless steel corrosion of threaded link.

Just the facts, ma’am:

We have been sworn to secrecy as to who this “Huh?” is about.  But we have the data!

The photo shows a 5/8” 316 S.S. threaded link, one of four used to suspend a 5-ton raiseable perforated deck floor in a pool of 3.2% NaCl salt water.  

Photo #1 represents roughly 9-months of service.  

The links are always submerged and are used to connect high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) rope from overhead drum winches to 316 SS fixed eyebolts at the floor’s four corners. The links are always under some load, (slightly less when “parked) to maintain slight tension.  The damage to the link will occur at only three of the four winch ropes when and where the rope actually touches the stainless-steel link. When HDPE rope thimbles are used (Photo 2), the link does not rust at all.

The questions:

  1. What is causing the corrosion?
  1. Why does the HDPE rope thimble prevent the corrosion?
  1. Why is corrosion happening to only to three of the four winch ropes?



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