Page 120 - Challenges in Corrosion Costs Causes Consequences and Control(2015)

98 CORROSION COSTS

TABLE 2.2 UK National Cost of Corrosion
Estimated Corrosion Costs
Industrial Sector £ x million %
Building and construction 250 18
Food 40 3
General engineering 110 8
Government departments 55 4
Marine 280 21
Metal refining and semifabrication 15 1
Oil and chemicals 180 13
Power 60 4
Transport 350 26
Water 25 2
Total £1365 100

The UK national costs of corrosion in major industrial areas are given in Table 2.2.
These costs include direct costs of the industry and, in certain cases, those costs
sustained by the users of the product because of maintenance or replacement. Costs
from interactions among sectors were not included.
The studies reveal that the corrosion costs are substantial, but not higher than
expected on the basis of consideration of annual expenditures for corrosion protection
technologies. The annual expenditures in United Kingdom on protective coatings,
including the cost of application, were estimated to be £772 million. Further, nearly
£620 million were estimated for annual expenditures on corrosion-resistant austenitic
stainless steels and nonferrous alloys. It was noted that these costs were not incurred
solely for the purpose of corrosion resistance.
Avoidable corrosion costs: The Hoar report estimated that nearly 20–25% of the
total corrosion costs could be saved by better use of current knowledge of corrosion
control. For each industry, the percentage savings ranged from approximately 10%
to 40% of the industry’s corrosion costs.
The estimated potential savings by industry are given in Table 2.3.
Factors bearing on costs: The UK Committee and industrial organization listed 16
factors that could lower the cost of corrosion. The factors prioritized by combined
judgment of experts in the field are as follows:
1. Better dissemination of existing corrosion control information.
2. Improved protective treatments.
3. Closer control over the application of existing protective treatments.
4. Improved design with the existing materials.
5. Greater awareness of corrosion hazards by the users.
6. Use of new materials.
7. Cost-effectiveness analysis of materials and protective treatments leading to
procurement on the basis of total lifecycle costs.