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Marine corrosion and biofouling cause about $50 billion worldwide economy losses annually and operational efficiency in marine industries. SME Group has over 23 years experienced on solving the two big problems by provide various marine engineering solutions. We have 5000 sqm workshop in Nantong City, we have more than 100 electrical and mechanical technicians on staff, We could complete more than 500 projects per year, and supply spare parts for more than 1000 ships per year. State-of-the-art materials that resist sea water erosion and bio-fouling settling forms the core of our solutions. In this blog, SME would like introduce you 4 material solutions on retrofitting, maintenance and new build by SME.
High-Performance Alloys for Heat Exchangers
The severe environment which a marine heat exchanger endures includes chlorine and the high temperatures and abrasive conditions associated with the use of sea water. Titanium, used in commercial pure titanium form, is resistant to sea water corrosion and has performed well in past Marine applications, however stock issues in the world mean that alternative candidates with strong corrosion resistance (e.g. Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Alloys such as 625, C-276, 22 and 686 along with super-austenitic stainless steel options (25-6MO and 27-7MO)), have seen interest and use grow where these properties and the high strength and formability of the materials needed for deep-drawing of plates between 0.50 to 0.70mm is required in plate heat exchangers. Using an knowledge of the range of alloys used across individual vessels, the team at SME’s technical service can offer an alloy selection which will give optimum long term performance.
Functionally Graded Materials for Structural Integrity
An FGM represents a significant alteration in the marine construction field, imparting graded properties within a composite system. For this application specifically, in relation to marine risers or structural components, an FGM comprises a dual composite section incorporating corrosion resistant facing materials, such as a duplex stainless steel, to an adjacent and highly potent structural support, for example, a carbon-manganese steel. According to data available on research, such FGMs exhibit higher strength and significantly better ductility when contrasted with a comparable X52 steel structure, as confirmed by ultimate tensile strengths of 587 MPa and 453 MPa, and ductility ratios of 45.47 and 32.07 respectively. More notably, a structure utilizing a specific component from this family remains at corrosion rates equivalent to that of X52. SME is watching this technology with intense interest, currently supporting such an option in both new-build and retro-fit situations in which strength, corrosion resistance are paramount.
Intelligent Nanocomposite Coatings
Most impressive advanced nanocomposite coatings has inspiration from nature’s structures and are now employed as a double functions protection of both antifouling and corrosion protection. Based on the brick-and-mortar concept. MoS/MXene “brick” has prepared in the polyurea-modified PDMS “mortar”, which achieve “on-off” transition in antifouling function between night (on-contact antibacterial）and day (off-contact antibacterial by release active oxygen species). These coatings have also achieved dual-healing function and good multisource self-healing efficiency (>99.46%) and adhesion strengths (>2.0MPa) with high performance on surface durability up to around 180 days in the real marine environment. SME has hull coating application services on the base of these innovations for vessel long lasting low-maintenance protective hull coating.
Controlled-Release Antifouling Systems
Existing cuprous oxide antifouling formulations suffer from ”initial explosion” and ”terminal exhaustion” of the active ingredient, copper ions, dramatically shortening the service life. However, the newly described slow-release systems address issues with galvanic corrosion mechanisms. Here, the insolubility of copper is leveraged to create a galvanic couple with the rGO, allowing copper ions to slowly and controllably dissolve; meanwhile, the rGO sheet acts to protect this process and offers a barrier role to prevent the corrosion occurring at the anode in a slow manner. The copper dissolution rate is controlled via tailoring cathode to anode ratio and achieved relative standard deviation 44.45% in 21 days’ immersion study, revealing stability. These advanced antifouling techniques are included in SMEs general specifications resulting in a superior environmental impact and prolonged periods of operation.
Conclusion: Partner with SME for Advanced Material Solutions
This is all enabled through the best choice of high-performance advanced materials - high temperature resistant alloys or FGMs or even more smart composite coatings which intelligent release systems – antifouling technology – ensuring total corrosion-free lifetime & maximum vessels operational availability. SME Group has more then 20 years experience in Marine Engineering Industry and is accredited according to the highest level standards –ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001. We can support you in the all worldwide Shipyard – specifically mainland China- in time and with innovation to apply this level of materials technology on your ship SME offers 12 month warranty and solution – and service –for your Corrosion and Foulings problems. Contact us immediately our Sales Team and our Technical specialists.