One of the things I like about corrosion (apart from its ability to give me and many others a good living) is the enormous range it covers. Yesterday illustrated it to me as well as any. In the morning I had the honour of presenting Professor Christofer Leygraf of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm with the Institute’s U. R. Evans Award at the 50th Corrosion Science Symposium held at Manchester University. Afterwards, this worthy award winner fascinated the audience with an explanation of his work on atmospheric corrosion at the molecular level using state-of-the-art in situ analytical techniques. In the afternoon, someone sent me a set of photographs of one of the sorriest looking steel and reinforced concrete structures I have ever seen and asked if it would be possible to repair it. Let’s put it this way, it was the equivalent of a vet being presented with a bloody dog collar and asked if Rover would pull through. Both myself and Prof. Leygraf were ‘doing corrosion’, but that’s probably where the similarity ends.

Another example would be explaining the principles of cathodic protection. You can do it essentially numerically employing Pourbaix diagrams developed from chemical thermodynamics – or, as I prefer, bung a lump of steel, a zinc bar and a reference electrode into a box full of damp sand and get busy with a DVM. I’ll tell you what, the latter is a darned sight better at explaining IR drop, ‘instant offs’ and potential decays, but I suppose it depends who your audience is and what their needs are. Vive la diversité!

Just as the summer holiday season grinds to a halt, the autumn conference season fires up and no one event is more eagerly awaited than Correx 2009 (see, product placement has already arrived in ICorr). As if Birmingham wasn’t exciting enough, from 27th to 29th October the ICorr’s premier corrosion conference hits the NEC with parallel sessions on protective coatings and cathodic protection. Details should be found elsewhere in this issue – if not, something has gone terribly wrong at the printers. Seriously though, a really excellent programme of speakers and exhibitors has been pulled together and I hope to see as many of you as possible in Brum this October.

I’ve been inundated (i.e. more than two) with expressions of interest regarding my proposed rust safari venture – although, to date, no good-will deposits. With that in mind, this edition’s photo is the first of a new series I call ‘Where’s that Wally Standing Now?’, along the lines of the popular book-based observation games, but without the red and white stripey shirt and scarf. You will note, not surprisingly, that the parapet casting to my side is somewhat afflicted with rust. But where am I and what building am I standing in front of? First person with the correct answer gets a crisp tenner from me for the charity of their choice and if no-one gets it, I choose one. Sound fair?

Terms and conditions apply. Not open to employees of ICorr or Square One or anyone I’ve bored to death with my holiday pics.

Bon chance!

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