Challenges faced by our infrastructure facilities

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Hosting a gathering of corrosion and materials innovations experts is crucial due to the myriad challenges faced by our infrastructures, as it provides a platform for collaborative problem-solving and the dissemination of cutting-edge solutions to safeguard the integrity, safety, and longevity of critical assets across diverse industries. Below outlined are few of the key challenges to be discussed::

Aging infrastructure: Many structures and equipment are aging and may require repairs or replacements. This can be challenging as it requires extensive inspection and testing to ensure that the structures are safe and fit for purpose.

Harsh operating conditions: These conditions can cause wear and tear on equipment and structures, leading to potential safety issues.

Cost constraints: Corrosion-related losses amount to trillions of dollars annually worldwide. By addressing corrosion through research and technological advancements, industries can significantly reduce maintenance and repair costs, enhance operational efficiency, and avoid unexpected downtimes.

Lack of standardization:There is a lack of standardization across the industry making it challenging to develop best practices and compare results across different projects.

Cost constraints: Corrosion-related losses amount to trillions of dollars annually worldwide. By addressing corrosion through research and technological advancements, industries can significantly reduce maintenance and repair costs, enhance operational efficiency, and avoid unexpected downtimes.

Lack of standardization: There is a lack of standardization across the industry making it challenging to develop best practices and compare results across different projects.

Skilled labor shortage: There is a shortage of skilled professionals that makes it difficult to perform regular inspections and maintenance, which can lead to safety issues.

Increasing regulatory requirements: There is an increasing focus on safety and environmental regulations in different sectors. Meeting these requirements can be challenging and requires a significant investment in resources and technology.

Deterioration of materials over time: Most infrastructure facilities are exposed to the elements like water, oxygen, pollution, etc. This leads to corrosion and degradation of materials like concrete, steel, rebar, etc. over many years of use.

Environmental factors: Exposure to saltwater, humidity, pollution, acids from industrial emissions, etc. accelerate the corrosion process. Coastal regions and industrial areas see more corrosion issues.

Lack of proper maintenance: Many aging facilities lack adequate inspection & maintenance budgets. Corrosion damage is not detected on time and repairs are delayed.

Use of substandard materials: To cut costs, inferior quality materials are sometimes used in construction which have less resistance to corrosion. This compromises long-term durability.

Incompatibility of materials: When dissimilar metals come in contact in the presence of an electrolyte like water, galvanic corrosion can occur more rapidly.

Shorter asset life: Unless properly managed, corrosion can reduce the useful lifespan of infrastructure considerably, necessitating replacements sooner.

Safety hazards: Corrosion compromise the safety aspects of structures and affects its longevity