Page 279 - Challenges in Corrosion Costs Causes Consequences and Control(2015)

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE 257

Structures with higher initial capital costs are more likely to be protected with
coatings and CP.
In the past 50 years, waterways and ports have benefited from advances in coating
systems such as metallizing, epoxies, and solids coating. The choice and development
of coatings are governed by environmental regulations specifying which coatings can
be exposed to water streams, such as the amount of VOC that can be used in coatings.
Coatings with 100% solids have been developed, which contain no VOC. In addition
to epoxy coatings, antifoulants are applied to submerged sections of the structure to
prevent microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC).
Epoxy coatings cost approximately $4.7–5.3/l while antifoulants are more expen-
sive at $11.8–21.1/l. Environmental regulations have led to decreased amount of
chemicals released from industrial installations along waterways, especially corro-
sives such as chlorine. The materials of construction for some water structures have
also changed. Piers and docks are no longer constructed with wood, but instead are
constructed with steel-reinforced concrete. To improve the lifespan of the structure
and prevent corrosion of reinforcing steel, fusion-bonded epoxy-coated reinforce-
ment or corrosion-inhibiting admixtures are sometimes utilized in the concrete mix.

4.14 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE

Hazardous materials consist of the following:
1. Explosives
2. Flammable and compressed gases
3. Flammable liquids
4. Flammable solids
5. Oxidizers
6. Poisonous materials
7. Radioactive materials
8. Corrosive materials
9. Miscellaneous materials.
A significant portion of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) concerns petroleum and
petroleum products. The petroleum industry processes 65% of the energy that Amer-
icans consume. These include transportation fuels, home heating oil, industrial fuels,
petrochemicals used in the manufacture of countless consumer products. Small quan-
tities of corrosive materials are stored in corrosion-resistant drums or containers.

4.14.1 Nuclear Waste Storage
Nuclear wastes are generated from spent nuclear fuel from electric power plants,
dismantled weapons, and products such as radio pharmaceuticals. The most impor-
tant design item for the safe storage of nuclear waste is the effective shielding of
radiation. To reduce the probability of nuclear radiation exposure, special packaging
is designed to meet the protection standards for temporary dry or wet storage or for