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Corrosion Engineering: a Fascinating, Senior Piping Engineer

Little-Known Career Option (/job/senior-piping-engineer-1521922)

By
Matthew Taylor
20 January 2021

Technically speaking, corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials by a

chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Although it is
commonly believed that corrosion is only associated with metals, they are
not the only materials susceptible to it. Non-metallic materials, including
plastics and glass, can also corrode.

What is so important about corrosion? It has significant costs to society.

Besides the estimated $2 to $4 trillion lost every decade to corrosion in the
United States, corrosion can compromise people’s safety. A dam could
burst, for example, or equipment needed in an emergency can become
unusable. It is in the public’s best interest that corrosion be mitigated as
much as possible.  

Knowledgeable professionals are needed to mitigate the scourge of

corrosion so that assets can have a longer service life. However, since the
corrosion engineering industry is not well-known, not many people are
employed in this industry—making corrosion engineering a highly niche
discipline. 
What is corrosion engineering?
Corrosion engineering is the application of chemistry, physics, mathematics,
and engineering to develop and implement ways to mitigate the damage
caused by corrosion. Corrosion cannot be stopped completely, but it can be
slowed significantly. Those employed in the industry are tasked with
mitigating the impact of corrosion as much as possible.

There are several common methods to minimize the impact of corrosion. A

corrosion engineer, may, for example, design and implement a cathodic
protection system. Cathodic protection works by connecting a metal at risk
of corroding to a metal that is more easily corroded. The metal being
protected does not corrode because the “sacrificial metal” corrodes instead.

Proper material selection is also a key strategy in fighting against corrosion.

Sometimes a material is used in an environment that it is not well suited to,
leading  to increased corrosion rates. Using materials that are appropriate
for the environment in which they serve is a major guard against corrosion.

Protective coatings serve as a barrier between a corrodible material and

their surrounding environment. Depending on the environment in question,
the protective coating could be, for example, paint, a fluoropolymer coating
(which is resistant to heat, water, salt, and chemicals), or a metallic coating.
These coatings can add years to an asset’s service life.
In the case where the environment is a fluid, chemical treatment may be an
appropriate corrosion mitigation method. Chemicals are selected, and their
concentrations and volumes are chosen based on the chemistry and the
fluid’s operating conditions, including temperature, pH, and contaminant
concentration. A chemical treatment program serves to alter the chemistry
of the fluid to make it less corrosive.

What is so fascinating about corrosion engineering?

Corrosion is like a plague—silent and debilitating. Industry  professionals are
those rare people charged with combating it. Understanding the interaction
between a material and its environment, and how even a small change in
either can mean the difference between days and decades of service life, is
thrilling. Particularly fascinating is identifying corrosion damage mechanisms
and their sources. Looking for small clues to eliminate certain damage
mechanisms and to validate others while conducting an inspection feels like
forensic pathology. Corrosion investigations can be compared to detective
work. 

Starting a career in corrosion engineering

Both engineers and technologists are employed in the field of corrosion
engineering. For engineers, completing a four-year degree in a relevant
engineering discipline is usually the first step towards a career in corrosion
engineering. Engineering disciplines typically involved in the industry are
mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, materials
engineering, marine engineering, metallurgical engineering, and corrosion
engineering.

For technologists, a two-year diploma is generally sufficient. Technologists

should hold a diploma in the disciplines above or in other relevant fields,
including instrumentation engineering, chemical technology, or
environmental technology. Many companies offer internships or co-op
positions related to corrosion engineering, making them a perfect entry
point into the industry.

Where are corrosion engineers and technologists

employed?
Those trained in corrosion engineering are employed in industries where
corrosion is a particularly significant  safety or economic issue. They are
most commonly found in the oil and gas industry, but are also commonly
found in the manufacturing, civil infrastructure, and marine industries.
Professional associations related to corrosion
engineering
The most well-known professional association for corrosion engineering was
NACE International, formerly the National Association of Corrosion
Engineers. In January 2021, NACE International merged with the Society for
Protective Coatings to form the Association for Materials Protection and
Performance.
There are many regional and national corrosion engineering professional
associations as well. These include the Institute of Corrosion (United
Kingdom) and the European Federation of Corrosion (European Union).
These associations serve to further the knowledge and understanding of
corrosion among its members and to increase interest in the industry
among members and the public.

Further education in corrosion engineering

NACE International and the Society for Protective Coatings offer certification
courses related to corrosion engineering, including in cathodic protection,
coating inspection, and coating application. These certifications are highly
valued in industry as they guarantee a deep knowledge of corrosion issues.

A day in the corrosion engineering industry

No two days working in the industry are ever the same. Those involved in
this profession spend a lot of time in an office, but also a lot of time in the
field. They may have long days in the field or may go home on time, having
spent their entire shift in the office. 

In the field, industry  professionals are primarily responsible for travelling to

inspect corrodible assets  for damage. They must get a full accounting of the
assets they are dealing with. If an asset is damaged or has failed, an
investigation must be conducted. Testimony from those working with the
asset, such as equipment operators, is particularly valuable in these
investigations.
Because of the niche market for corrosion mitigation products, industry 
professionals often meet with chemical, material, and equipment vendors to
identify and select products that will best serve to mitigate corrosion. Other
field work may include industry professionals being on hand during a
construction project to consult on corrosion-related issues or delivering
chemical samples to a lab for analysis.

The work of industry  professionals in an office environment varies. Writing

investigation reports is a common task. A complete picture of asset damage,
including testimony, chemical reports, inspection findings, and construction
standards, must be painted. Supporting documentation is compiled and
analyzed to identify corrosion damage mechanisms as accurately as
possible. Having as much accurate information on hand as possible also
allows for recommendations to be made to avoid similar damage. 

Designing cathodic protection systems, identifying damaged assets

requiring repair or replacement, overseeing projects to address the assets’
damage, and interpreting reports are all other common tasks done by
professionals in the industry.

Job prospects
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics does not specifically list job
prospects for corrosion engineers. The closest profession, materials
engineers, will experience a projected job growth of 2% between 2019 and
2029. As infrastructure and other assets age and begin to fail, especially in
the oil and gas industry, more corrosion professionals will be needed to
manage them. 

In closing
Despite the corrosion engineering industry not being a well-known or
commonly chosen career option, it is an industry of great importance that
keeps the world running as it should.  Without professionals in this industry,
infrastructure would crumble, people would be put into danger, and trillions
of dollars in economic output would be lost. The corrosion engineering
industry is a fascinating option worth checking out. It could be the career
path you’ve been looking for.

career advice (/tag/career%2520advice)

Matthew Taylor (/tag/Matthew%2520Taylor)

engineers (/tag/engineers)

Corrosion Engineering (/tag/Corrosion%2520Engineering)

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