NACE International Podcasts

Tristan de Servins and Solveig Parent of Heuristech and Dr. Homero Castaneda-Lopez of Texas A&M University join the MP Interview Series to discuss their Differential Reflectometry Mapping (DRM) technology, which was recently named as a winner in the 2021 MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards program. DRM is described as a novel technology that uses electromagnetic reflectometry to assess the state of a coating on buried pipeline networks. This technology allows users to detect, locate, and characterize coating defects, including delaminations, and the experts offer more background details on this podcast. DRM is non-invasive and ideally suited to assess pipelines in cities, under roads or waterways, and in other challenging environments. 

Marcelo Senatore, technical marketing manager for the Americas region at Sandvik, joins our podcast to discuss the features of his company’s new Sanicro 35 alloy. The technology was honored in the recent 2021 MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards program. With an official launch in August 2020, the alloy is the latest addition to Sandvik’s growing Sanicro portfolio of nickel alloys and austenitic stainless steels (SS). According to the company, it offers high-performance, strength, and corrosion resistance at a wide range of temperatures. Designed for extremely corrosive environments and seawater applications, it is described as ideal for heat exchangers and hydraulic and instrumentation tubing. In the episode, Senatore discusses end users and applications for the alloy; how Sandvik is overcoming many of the historical limitations related to various SS grades and nickel alloys; results from field testing and the path to commercialization; what the next steps are; and much more.

Kamal Taher, Director of Global Operations at AMPP, joins our podcast to explain how his department is helping members and customers around the world adjust to the combination of NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings. Topics include common questions and feedback from members in different world regions; priorities in blending NIICAP and SSPC QP contractor accreditation programs; strategies to overcome concerns and objections; subject areas and markets for growth in corrosion control; and much more.

Dr. Patrick Dodds, founder and CEO of Hexigone, joins our podcast to discuss his company’s high-performance corrosion inhibitors — which were recently honored in the 2021 MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards. Known as Intelli-ion, Hexigone's range of products replace toxic chemicals with safer, smarter, and sustainable inhibitors that bring coatings to life by enabling them to react and protect “on demand” against corrosion. This is done by incorporating an active ingredient which has never before been used effectively within coatings. In the episode, Dodds explains the latest results from the field, as well as the next steps moving forward.

Lesley Martinez, Manager of Conferences at AMPP, joins our podcast to recap the recently completed CORROSION 2021 Virtual Conference & Expo. Martinez shares highlights from the show and lessons learned from the virtual experience, along with a preview of the upcoming transition to in-person events. She also offers an early look at the Coatings+ 2021 show and the first AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in March 2022.

Tony da Costa, vice president of engineering at MOBILTEX, joins the podcast to discuss recent advancements in remote cathodic protection (CP) monitoring.  His company's CorTalk RMU1+INT1 package, which was honored as an MP Corrosion Innovation Awards winner, is designed to enable utilities and pipeline operators to remotely perform interruption, obtain CP measurement data, and dramatically reduce travel to remote locations. In this episode, da Costa shares user feedback on the technology and related trends, along with unique insight and perspective from his decades in the corrosion industry.

In a new series spotlighting winners of the 2021 MP Corrosion Innovation Awards, Northrop Grumman's Harvey Hack and Jim Wandgassen join us to discuss the technology behind the NiobiCon underwater electrical connector. Topics include the historical limitations of connector technologies; how NiobiCon overcomes those challenges and offers additional benefits; recent field testing results; and the path to commercialization.

Narasi Sridhar, CEO of MC Consult LLC, shares some of the highlights from his 40-year career in corrosion. He discusses how creativity and openness to possibilities in your career can lead you to unexpected places, such as working on a project for NASA to detect past life on Mars with Raman spectroscopy. Other topics in this episode of the CORROSION journal Interview Series include the importance of mentors and the need for risk management.

Danos, Graco, and Tesla NanoCoatings recently worked together to develop a functional non-slip deck coating for offshore clients. Their work, which was profiled in Materials Performance (MP) magazine, explains how a coatings applicator was able to overcome many traditional challenges through the use of an innovative protective coatings pump design with a new single-coat carbon nanotube non-slip deck coat slurry.   In this episode, Danos' Scott Soto, Graco's John Lihwa, and Tesla's Joe Davis explore lessons learned from their collaboration, as well as future opportunities when using the system.

The January 2021 issue of Materials Performance magazine featured the article, “Enabling Manufacturing and Fuel Efficiencies with Novel Pretreatment,” written by John D. Watkins, senior scientist, and Crystal G. Morrison, leader of business development, both with LumiShield Technologies, Inc. In this episode, they join the MP Interview Series to discuss the subject of their article in greater detail. Topics include next-generation pretreatment technologies; material lightweighting; their research findings; and the corrosion resistance of aluminum oxide.

Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Industries (Paris, France), joins the MP Interview Series to discuss an executive order signed by President Biden that will begin a review of the supply chains that support several crucial American manufacturing industries, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy.  In this episode, he covers the intention to insulate the American economy from future shortages of critical imported components, how this move might help open up critical supply of important rare earth materials and help manufacturers obtain raw materials from suppliers outside of China, how durable tungsten is against corrosion and oxidation, and how new production sources of tungsten are critical for increased global supply.

Lesley Martinez, Manager of Conferences, and David Briley, Manager of Global and Specialty Exhibits, join the AMPP Interview Series to discuss preparations for the upcoming CORROSION 2021 Virtual Conference & Expo. Topics include why the time is right for the annual conference to go virtual for the first time; what the virtual experience is likely to feel like for attendees and exhibitors; new benefits for the international community; common questions and feedback from the industry; and on-demand access after the event concludes. For more information, visit www.nacecorrosion.org. 

Robert "Bob" Dahlstrom, CEO of aerial robotic systems provider Apellix, joins our podcast to explain the increasing role of drones in corrosion and coating inspections — with a particular emphasis on aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Topics include the past, present, and future of drone technologies, as well as the recent launch of Apellix NDT as a new field services company.

R. Winston Revie, CORROSION journal's longest-serving Associate Editor, looks back over his 55-year career on this episode of the CORROSION journal Interview Series. Winston provides insight into changes he has seen over the years and gives advice for those in the corrosion industry.

Rob Zmud, integrity consulting division manager at PureHM (a Xylem Brand) and Chukwuma (Chuks) Onuoha, global product manager for Spectrum XLI and cathodic protection at­­­­­­­­­ Xylem, join the MP Interview Series to discuss pipeline integrity pitfalls and how to avoid them. In this episode, they cover the reasons unnecessary digs persist and how operators can combat the problem; why missed digs occur and how this can be avoided; how to properly diagnose the root cause when treating integrity issues; and how an operator can fix persistent systematic pipeline integrity issues.

This episode features a roundtable discussion with Elisabeth Charmley, Naval Architect for one of the world's largest ship managers; Johnny Eliasson, Hull and Coatings Engineer at Chevron Shipping; and Buddy Reams, Captain USCG (retired), Chief Technical/Maritime Officer of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).  All three are members of TEG532x, which is a Technical Exchange Group (TEG) that remains very active in areas related to ship hull fouling, antifouling methods, aquatic invasive species, and other biofouling related interests of the commercial shipping community.   Topics discussed on the podcast include the origins of the open group and motivations to join; success stories from the group over its three-plus years; efforts to synchronize the TEG’s work with other shipping trade organizations; and the ongoing development and structure of AMPP's technical program.

Bo Andersen, product manager for thermal spray aluminum (TSA) at Integrated Global Services (IGS), shares experiences and lessons learned from his company's pilot project at one of Nigeria LNG's six trains. Topics discussed on the podcast include benefits of the technology; how it can be safely applied in an online plant environment; and challenges overcome during the project.

Tony da Costa, vice president of engineering at Mobiltex (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), and Shawn Lawrence, service manager, join the MP Interview Series to discuss lightning immunity in pipelines, as well as the use of remote monitoring systems to evaluate potential damage. In this episode, they cover the ways in which a lightning strike could affect a pipeline. Other topics discussed include why "flashovers" are often more damaging than a direct lightning strike; ways to evaluate the impact of a lightning strike; and how pipeline operators can protect cathodic protection (CP) systems and their components from lightning strikes. The feature article in the February 2021 issue of Materials Performance (MP) Magazine has more on these subjects.

Professors Joey Kish (McMaster University) and Geraint Williams (Swansea University) join the CORROSION journal Interview Series to discuss corrosion of magnesium and its alloys and provide highlights of CORROSION’s magnesium-themed February issue.

Troy Rankin, president of Farwest Corrosion Control Co. (Downey, California, USA), discusses his company's latest advances in cathodic protection (CP) technology and shares feedback that he's heard from clients in the field. Other topics include what business in the corrosion industry is likely to look like in 2021, especially in the context of a new U.S. administration and the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.