Abstract
Schütze, M., Bender, R. and Schütze, K-G (Editors). 2012. Hardback, Wiley–VCH Verlag, 526pp. ISBN 978-3-527-33435-3 £165·00/€198·00
This book was produced with the support of Dechema, the Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, a nonprofit organization that promotes developments in chemical technology, biotechnology and environmental protection. The Materials and Corrosion Group within Dechema are devoted to the study and research of methods and techniques for corrosion control and mitigation in industry and the environment. They produce the Dechema Werkstoff Tabelle (Dechema Corrosion Data Sheets) and the Corrosion Handbook. The Handbook currently consists of more than 12,000 pages and covers around 110,000 corrosion systems (i.e. all relevant commercial materials and media), based on the evaluation of over 100,000 scientific and technical articles which are referenced in the database.
This is a titanic work of searching, finding and arranging hundreds of pieces of information collected from; handbooks, textbooks, compilations, catalogs, journals, articles into a coherent, ordered publication. Much of this research was necessary due to the development of new technologies, materials and products that were integrated into the book creating a wealth of information and knowledge of corrosion. In this way the book was converted into an indispensable tool for all scientists and engineers dealing with corrosion problems.
Corrosion inhibition technology is profusely discussed thorough this volume, including the more diverse aspects such as inhibitor characteristics, chemical composition, inhibition mechanisms, different types and their efficiency. Today, safer ‘green’ corrosion inhibitors, based on the modern concept of green chemistry (also known as sustainable chemistry) are widely employed worldwide but unfortunately they are not mentioned in this publication.
As corrosion experts and practitioners with knowledge and experience about corrosion problem in the chemical process industry (CPI), in particular in phosphoric acid production plants, we were interested in the articles dealing with the corrosion resistance of Ta, Ti and Zr to phosacid.
Dozens of articles are cited but the majority deal with pure acid at different concentrations and temperatures and few examples are mentioned about industrial phosacids: metallurgical, fertiliser and food grades. On the other hand, chemists, chemical engineers and food technologists need data on pure phosacid since it is added as an acidifier to cola-type beverages, fruit and vegetable juices, candies, sour sauces, pastes, etc.
This is a compilation with multiple authors and many sources and articles, offering a wide spectrum of scientific knowledge and practical experience, with their different view and approaches that improve the quality and diversity of this volume. A fantastic amount of references are recorded in the three separated parts: a total of 1627.
How to use this large Handbook? It offers a guide for the clarification of the metals corrosion resistance based on the mass loss rate and the equivalent corrosion rate in units mm a−1 in three categories: resistant < 0·1; fairly resistant <1·0; not resistant >1·0. It also displays equations for conversion mass loss rate into corrosion rates in mm a−1 and recommends not to accept the resistance data without questioning the particular conditions of the pair metallic material-environment. This is a practical book.
This publication is abundantly illustrated, displaying a large member of graphs, figures and tables, rich in numerical data of corrosion rates in the chemicals solutions, gases, and environments listed. At the end a subject index is presented to facilitate their location in this voluminous compendium.
The learned editors: M. Schutze, R. Bender and K.-G. Schutze, all veteran members of DECHEMA and active in corrosion control activities in Europe, have provided us with a well-organised volume, heavily loaded with valid, useful information on the varied applications of titanium, tantalum and zirconium.
This volume should be owned and used by managers, engineers, chemists, technicians and operators of chemical plants and by designers and manufacturers of equipment installed in these plants. It will save large expenses in maintenance, repair and replacement of equipment.
Director and Professor, Institute of Engineering,
University of Baja California, Mexico
Professor, Institute of Engineering,
University of Baja California, Mexico