In my years as a freelancer, I've seen countless businesses flounder and fail. Sometimes it's because the owner is inexperienced; sometimes it's because the market wasn't ready for the product; sometimes it seems simply to be a matter of luck. If you want to manipulate your own luck, though, there are some tricks you can use--little things that will make it easier for you to get your new small business off the ground and keep it there. In this new blog, I'll be sharing those tips and tricks with you and answering your questions on how to help yourself as much as possible.
Water tanks are useful storage assets for both residential and commercial premises. Steel water tanks are especially useful because they provide a durable and resilient structure for storing your water supply.
However, steel water tanks are still prone to corrosion. Corrosion occurs due to the presence of all necessary components that complete an electrochemical cell. With the steel surface having a slight electrochemical difference and water acting as the electrolyte solution, steel can slowly oxidize back to its more stable iron oxide form. Anodising steel water tanks via cathodic protection is the answer to this corrosion challenge. This article will elaborate on why anodising your water tanks is an important technique.
1. Protecting the internal tank surface
As previously mentioned, a steel water tank has all the necessary components to complete an electrochemical reaction. This means that the internal surface of your steel water tanks can gradually turn into iron ore over time. This not only results in a weaker tank structure, but the rusting can also contaminate your water supply.
To prevent this internal corrosion, many people seek to coat their water tanks. However, the coating is only a partially effective technique. Coatings tend to wear out over time, and it only takes a small chipped surface for corrosion to occur. Anodising is the best technique for protecting internal tank surfaces. By providing a sacrificial metal coating (such as magnesium) to act as the anode, all internal surfaces remain more electronegative and prevent iron from being oxidised to an ore (which results in corrosion).
2. Ensuring the quality of water
Anodising also protects your water supply. Internally rusted water tanks may cause your water to contain dissolved iron ore. This water can result in many different health complications when consumed without being purified. To ensure clean water in your steel tanks, magnesium anodes can be used to provide a stable surface that isn't susceptible to electrolytic reactions.
3. Protecting the outer structure
Rusting can also occur on the outer surface of your water tanks. Anodising prevents outer surfaces (that are subject to moisture content) from corroding over time. The anodising process also ensures that your tank maintains a clean and polished, as opposed to having brown stains along its outer layers.
4. Protecting the tank's housing frame
Finally, if your steel tanks have metallic outer frames (especially elevated water towers), corrosion can affect the stability of your tank. Luckily, anodising the outer frames with a stable sacrificial metal prevents the risk of corrosion and increases durability.
Share14 October 2018
