Professor Arjan Mol is a global leader in corrosion science and engineering, recognised for his pioneering corrosion research and measurement technique development and leadership. After his doctorate at Delft University of Technology in 2000 for his seminal work on filiform corrosion of coated aluminium alloys, he advanced industrial innovation as Project and Team Leader for Lifetime Performance of Lightweight Structures at TNO Built Environment. Returning to Delft in 2006 and becoming Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, where his research has transformed understanding of local corrosion mechanisms, metal surface treatments, polymer-metal interfacial bonding, and active protective coatings across sectors from aerospace and offshore to automotive and microelectronics. Professor Mol’s groundbreaking contributions include pioneering in situ TEM corrosion studies, integrated FTIR-EIS analyses in Kretschmann geometry, and eco-friendly alternatives to hexavalent chromium-based technologies. His work on active protective and self-healing coatings, coupled with high-throughput inhibitor screening, has paved the way for machine-learning-driven corrosion protection strategies. Combining deep scientific insight with industrial relevance, he has delivered numerous keynote and plenary lectures worldwide, inspiring generations of researchers.
On behalf of the Institute of Corrosion, we extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Mol on this well-deserved recognition. The U. R. Evans Award honours outstanding and sustained contributions to corrosion science, and Professor Mol’s exceptional achievements exemplify the spirit and legacy of this award. ICorr looks forward to celebrating his accomplishments with the corrosion community during the 2026 award presentation and associated events.
What did you aspire to be when you were younger? When I was growing up, I always wanted to run my own business. I actually achieved this pretty early, at 19 I started a mobile wholesale confectionery business inspired by my father, who was a master confectioner. Working alongside him taught me a lot about dedication and craftsmanship. After a couple of years, I sold my business to focus on a career offshore in the corrosion industry.
How did you end up as a corrosion specialist? I started out as a scaffold labourer and then became a painter blaster with Salamis. During my training as a painter blaster, I had the opportunity to work in the Salamis skills centre, which opened doors to roles in training, technical support and project support. My expertise in painting, coating, blasting and integrity risk management naturally led me to specialise in corrosion and coatings control and ultimately the Technical Authority for Bilfinger UK. I’ve backed this up with advanced qualifications, including NACE Level 2 and ICorr Level 3 certifications.
What was your first job like? My early professional career was very hands-on. As a painter blaster, I was responsible for preparing and coating surfaces, always making sure to deliver quality work to client specifications. This role gave me a strong foundation in safety, teamwork and technical excellence and I was recognised as a Qualified Painter Blaster on major offshore platforms. Achieving SQAs OPITO, ICATS and Train the painter qualifications.
How did your career progress after that? After gaining practical experience, I moved into training roles, developing lesson plans and delivering technical courses for painting, blasting and safety. I was promoted from trainee to senior trainer and then advanced to Project Engineer and Technical Authority at Bilfinger. In my current role, I lead QA/QC functions, manage projects and mentor technical teams. I’ve also contributed to digital innovation with the rollout of the Bilfinger UK Coatings App and development of other digital solutions also serve as a technical authority for coatings.
What have you enjoyed most about your career? I’ve enjoyed the variety of projects I’ve been exposed to from new builds and large barge campaigns to decommissioning, installing sea ladders and working in the alternative energy markets. Each project has brought new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.
What career advice would you give to a young specialist in your field? Based on my experience, I’d advise new specialists to get as much hands-on experience as possible, embrace continuous learning and get involved in professional organisations like ICorr. Building strong relationships with colleagues, suppliers and clients is key to success in this industry.
What’s in store for professionals in your area of expertise? With the ongoing need for corrosion control and asset integrity, I believe the future is bright for specialists in this field. The industry’s shift towards digital solutions and best practice implementation means there are always opportunities for innovation and leadership.
What have you gained from your membership of professional organisations? As Chair of the Surface Treatment Governing Board for ICorr UK and Financial Officer for the Aberdeen Branch, I’ve benefited greatly from networking, knowledge sharing, and opportunities to influence industry standards and training.
What’s your favourite food? My favourite cuisine has to be a full Scottish breakfast with French toast. There’s nothing quite like starting the day with a hearty breakfast – especially when French toast is involved! It’s a real treat and brings back memories of family weekends.
What do you like doing most outside of your professional life? These days, I spend most of my free time with my wife Diane and our children – Leila, Emilia and Isla. Family time is really important to me. In the past, I used to have a large reef aquarium, which I dedicated a lot of time to maintaining. Looking back, I think that’s where my interest in chemistry may have started!
Tell us a secret about yourself, something that might surprise fellow members (and is suitable for print!) A few things might surprise people: I once did a skydive from 13,000 feet in Houston Texas which was an incredible experience. Also as mentioned earlier, I started my own business at 19 a mobile wholesale confectionery business which not everyone knows about. Both experiences taught me a lot about taking risks and following my passions.
The Institute of Corrosion welcomes applications from ICorr members, for this important arising vacancy to deliver and optimise the development of digital content / marketing on behalf of ICorr multiple formats.
Job Title: Digital Content Co-ordinator
Location: Remote Working with occasional Northampton ICorr HQ Visits
Company Name: Institute of Corrosion
Job Type: Part-Time Consultancy (1 – 2 Days a week – part remunerated/part voluntary).
Remuneration: 15K per annum (Reviewed Annually)
Applications: Initially via email to admin@icorr.org attaching CV and Cover Letter. Please use subject header to be ‘Digital content job application’.
Closing Date: Friday 30 January 2026
Target Commencement Date: 2 March 2026 (or earlier)
Job Description:
General
To act on behalf of the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) in implementing and maintaining digital content strategies that work on specific audiences within the field of corrosion prevention.
To establish and manage short and long-term digital content campaigns to align with ICorr’s objectives.
To report to Digital Strategy working group and the President.
To conduct and lead Digital Strategy working group meetings with regards to the content creation and aligning ICorr’s objectives.
To maintain positive and constructive relationships and providing professional advice and expertise to continually develop (e.g. liaise with other parts of ICorr’s administration and working divisions / governing boards, Council, Trustees, Website Host and Journal and Newsletter Editors to ensure alignment in the messaging across multiple platforms).
To actively help promote and maintain ICorr Website information.
To implement and review the organisation’s social media and email marketing strategies to produce high quality, timely outputs.
Key Requirements
Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks.
Experience in writing and managing digital content / marketing.
Track record in planning and executing strategies geared particularly to Training promotion.
Working knowledge of SEO and content optimisation
Must hold membership of ICorr.
Strong relationships with key corrosion industry stakeholders and professional institutes (PEI’s).
Knowledge of STEM and other career development initiatives.
A collaborative team player who thrives in fast-paced environments.
Creative, proactive, and commercially minded — you think about impact, not just output.
AkzoNobel has extended its Chinese marine coatings partnership to accelerate transition to sustainable shipping.
A strategic agreement has been signed between AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings business and Winning Shipping in China which will help accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to lower carbon operations.
The two companies have been partners since 2016 and the expanded collaboration will involve AkzoNobel supplying a significant volume of International® coatings for a number of drydocking projects in 2026. Focused on six vessels, it will enhance the fleet’s operational efficiency and environmental performance. At the core of the latest agreement is Intersleek® 1100SR product – the world’s first biocide-free fouling control coating to feature patented “slime release” technology. It delivers outstanding fouling control and significantly reduces hull resistance, helping fleets to save fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“The outstanding performance of International has been fully validated in our existing fleet, delivering significant fuel savings and enhancing our market competitiveness,” says Yu Shan, General Manager of Qingdao Winning International Ship Management Co., Ltd. This is why we’ve chosen to extend and deepen our partnership. Through this drydocking cooperation, we look forward to more vessels benefiting from these more sustainable advanced technologies, jointly contributing to a greener future for the industry.”
Photo: The Winning Youth bulk carrier is coated with products supplied by AkzoNobel
Following the International Maritime Organization’s introduction of emission reduction regulations, shipping companies are addressing their carbon footprint and actively adopting measures to optimize energy efficiency. China is also speeding up the implementation of its “Dual Carbon” strategy in the maritime sector, promoting the widespread adoption of more sustainable technologies. “We’re honoured to continue and deepen our strategic cooperation,” said Rob Leslie, Commercial Director of AkzoNobel Marine and Protective Coatings in Greater China. “Winning Shipping’s unwavering pursuit of more efficient operations aligns perfectly with our philosophy of helping customers through sustainable innovation. We look forward to providing solid support for the long-term operational efficiency and sustainable development goals of its fleet.”
In addition to Intersleek 1100SR, International will also supply the project with its Intercept® 8500 LPP antifouling coating, which combines linear polishing with an optimized biocide package. This is the highest performing antifouling product within the International range, specifically designed for deep sea vessels.
This agreement was signed during the recent Marintec China 2025 event, one of the world’s leading maritime industry exhibitions.
Hempel A/S has launched the latest addition to the Hempaline Defend family; Hempaline Defend 430, a next-generation tank lining created to help energy operators boost efficiency, minimise downtime and extend maintenance intervals. The solvent-free, epoxy phenolic lining streamlines application, lowers energy use during installation and supports more sustainable operations by reducing VOC emissions and workplace hazards. By combining single-coat efficiency with rapid curing and long-term durability, Hempaline Defend 430 enables asset owners to keep tanks in service longer while lowering lifecycle costs.
Hempaline Defend is a range of high-performance lining solutions engineered for the demanding conditions of the energy and process industries. Designed to withstand corrosion, high temperatures, abrasion and exposure to a wide spectrum of chemicals and solvents, these linings provide reliable long-term protection. By reducing maintenance needs and extending service life, Hempaline Defend helps operators maximise uptime and lower total lifecycle costs. “After a trial application with a major tank builder, customer feedback was that the shorter inspection time, compared to their existing lining, would significantly improve output in their workshop,” Matthew Fletcher, Segment Development Manager, Linings at Hempel A/S commented that: “With Hempaline Defend 430, asset owners benefit from a solvent-free lining that can be applied in a single coat, returned to service quickly and approved even for the most sensitive cargos and with a temperature resistance up to 90°C and strong hydrocarbon resistance, Defend 430 truly offers a versatile one-product solution for storage tanks.”
Key technical highlights: • Solvent-free epoxy phenolic lining for energy storage tanks • Single-coat application at 400 µm (16 mil’s) • Rapid return to service: 3 days at 20°C • Withstands crude oil up to 93°C (200°F) • Approved for potable water (WRAS) and jet fuel (EI1541) • Inspection interval extension up to 5 years (API 652 & 653 compliant with optional glass fibre mat reinforcement) • Compatible with Hempaline Prepare 130 primer for immersion up to 90°C
You can learn more about Hempaline Defend right here.
Oceaneering
Oceaneering Wins ASQE Diamond Award for Quality Excellence
Photo: The ASQE Diamond Award
Houston, Texas – Oceaneering International, Inc. has been honoured with the American Society for Quality and Excellence (ASQE) Diamond Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the quality industry. Oceaneering was one of only two companies selected for this award in 2025, reflecting a commitment to performance excellence and innovation.
The Diamond Award is presented to organizations that achieve the highest maturity scores in the annual Insights on Excellence® (IoE) Benchmarking Tool survey. This recognition signifies exceptional standards of quality and continuous improvement, recognizing organizations that integrate best practices into every aspect of their operations.
Oceaneering’s 2025 results demonstrate a progressive Quality culture, as defined in the IoE maturity model, and predictable and consistent delivery of services and products that meet or exceed customer expectations. Winners were recognized during the Excellence Roundtable event in November, coinciding with World Quality Month.
Julie Sitzmann, Director, Quality Solutions, at Oceaneering, said: “Oceaneering is committed to performance excellence, and this recognition reflects that our quality management system and culture are delivering as intended. We are proud to be one of only two companies honoured with the Diamond Award, which highlights our commitment to quality and consistent execution across the organization.”
Learn more about Oceaneering’s approach to Quality.
TÜV Rheinland, (Technischer Überwachungsverein) are a very well-established ICorr/ARL (Argyll Ruane Ltd) Training partner.
They have issued 133x ICorr Training Certifications and 68x ICorr Training Re-Certifications in 2025 alone, from their Shanghai Training Centre.
Jing Anita Fang is the Key Account Manager for TUV Rheinland in China.
Photo: TUV HQ, Shanghai
About TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland, founded in 1872, is a global leader in technical services, providing safe and sustainable solutions for the interaction between humans, the environment, and technology. Since 1996, they have offered training and personnel certification in China, being Europe’s largest independent education institute. TÜV Rheinland Industrial Services Greater China, comprising world-leading experts, delivers technical inspection, testing, and certification for the oil, gas, chemical, petrochemical, energy, power, construction, and process industries worldwide. Their comprehensive services ensure products and equipment meet market requirements, supporting local industries in developing safely and sustainably.
History with ICorr
In collaboration with Argyll Ruane, TÜV Rheinland has successfully introduced ICorr training to China, becoming the sole ICorr training provider in the country in 2018. On-site training is conducted in coastal cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao, Zhuhai, Qidong, and Zhoushan, where numerous international offshore FSPO and LNG projects are active. During 2024, ICorr, TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd., and Argyll Ruane (Sheffield, UK) celebrated 7 years’ collaboration, and achieved the 1000th ICorr Certificate issue in China. In the same year, Protective Coating Inspector Training Level II and Level III have been delivered by TÜV Rheinland, where all ICorr surface treatment courses are available for the candidates in China now.
The President of the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), Dr Yunnan Gao, was honoured to host Professor Xiaogang Li, President of the Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection (CSCP) https://www.cscp.org.cn/ during a significant multi-day visit to the United Kingdom in November 2025. This most welcome visit marked another historic milestone in UK-China cooperation in corrosion science and technology and reflects the growing international influence of Professor Li – one of the world’s most distinguished leaders in corrosion science and engineering.
Professor Li, who also serves as Professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Director of the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Centre, and Editor-in-Chief of npj Materials Degradation https://www.nature.com/npjmatdeg/ travelled to the UK with a CSCP delegation to deepen academic, industrial, and institutional collaboration with ICorr and leading UK research organisations.
Strategic Visit to The University of Manchester
The first stop of the visit was The University of Manchester https://www.materials.manchester.ac.uk/ where the ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, welcomed Professor Li and the CSCP delegation. Discussions centred on establishing structured pathways for knowledge exchange, joint workshops, and collaborative programmes in corrosion science, materials degradation, and advanced characterisation.
Photo 1: Collaboration Meeting at The University of Manchester. Professor Dirk Engelberg of Manchester University Giving a Presentation.
The delegation toured Manchester’s world-class materials and corrosion research facilities, including advanced electron microscopy laboratories and the Henry Royce Institute hub https://www.royce.ac.uk/ guided by Professor Xiaorong Zhou and Professor Dirk Engelberg, both internationally recognised leaders in corrosion and structural materials.
Photo 2: CSCP President Professor Xiaogang Li (L3), ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (R2) and the Whole Delegation Hosted by Manchester University Professor Xiaorong Zhou (L2) and the Team at Henry Royce Institute, Manchester University.
These engagements highlighted strong synergies between UK and Chinese research capabilities in environmental degradation, data-driven modelling, and materials genome methodologies—areas strongly aligned with Professor Li’s pioneering work in corrosion big data.
Visit to the University of Leeds
The delegation then travelled to the University of Leeds https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering-research-innovation where they were hosted by Professor Richard Barker and Dr Joshua Owen. A dedicated collaboration workshop focused on shared challenges across atmospheric corrosion, mechanical performance in complex environments, and infrastructure durability.
Photo 3: Collaboration Meeting at the University of Leeds. Dr Joshua Owen Giving A Presentation.
This was followed by technical tours of the University’s corrosion laboratories and the Henry Royce Institute facilities in Leeds, where cutting-edge capabilities in electrochemical methods, advanced microscopy, and materials testing were showcased.
Photo 4: Visit to the Corrosion Laboratory at the University of Leeds.
ICorr and CSCP held productive discussions on joint collaborative initiatives, potential bilateral joint research programme, and co-developed technical guidance for emerging technologies.
Final Engagement at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
The final stage of the visit took place at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in London https://www.npl.co.uk/ hosted by Professor Gareth Hinds, a globally respected figure in electrochemistry and corrosion measurement science.
A high-level meeting explored future cooperation on standards development, corrosion testing methodologies, and the potential for coordinated international research programmes that link the UK, China, and broader global partners.
Photo 5: CSCP President Professor Xiaogang Li (L3), ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (Right) and China Delegation Hosted by Professor Gareth Hinds (R2) at NPL, London.
A detailed tour of NPL’s corrosion labs followed, highlighting UK leadership in precision materials characterisation, CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) corrosion testing, and corrosion-related metrology.
Photo 6: Visit to the Corrosion Laboratory at NPL.
The visit concluded with a symbolic and impactful moment – the ICorr President and Professor Li shaking hands at the end of the visit at NPL, reaffirming the commitment of both organisations to long-term partnership.
Photo 7: ICorr President and CSCP President – Shaking Hands at the End of the Visit.
A Transformative Step for Global Corrosion Collaboration
Professor Li’s visit represents one of the most significant international engagements in ICorr’s recent history. His exceptional global standing-reflected in his pioneering contributions to corrosion big data, materials genome engineering, atmospheric corrosion mechanisms, and the development of advanced corrosion-resistant steels-amplifies the strategic importance of this collaboration.
His leadership has had profound influence across China and the international corrosion community, and his engagements in the UK underscore the strong mutual interest in scientific cooperation, talent development, and harmonisation of methodologies across continents.
ICorr Statement on the Visit
The ICorr President commented:
“This visit marks a new affirmative chapter of international cooperation. Professor Li is one of the most influential corrosion scientists in the world, and the strengthening of ties between ICorr and CSCP will accelerate innovation, unify global communities, and help tackle some of the most complex materials challenges facing society. We look forward to expanding this partnership for the benefit of both nations and the global corrosion community.”
Looking Ahead
ICorr and CSCP have agreed to continue developing:
Bilateral research programmes
Collaborative standards development
Exchange opportunities for students and early-career corrosion practitioners
Joint international webinars, workshops and conferences
New awards schemes
Shared initiatives in corrosion data science, materials design, and advanced testing
This landmark visit has not only reinforced the scientific bonds between the UK and China but has also set the stage for a new era of global cooperation in corrosion science and engineering.
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
