1.2         MCF/NACE Conference:  Offshore Materials & Corrosion: 40 Years On.  The Chairman announced that plans were going ahead for this conference, which was also endorsed by ICorr Aberdeen.  The Radisson SAS Hotel Edinburgh had been booked for 20^th – 22^nd June 2006, and a programme of 16 invited speakers would cover a variety of relevant topics.  Brochures would be available very shortly.

  2.      TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS (part 1):

 2.1  'Some Standards, Quality & Design Issues in Materials for Seawater Systems’, Roger Francis (Weir Materials & Foundries)  

2.2   Keynote Lecture: 2.1      ‘Performance Monitoring and Analysis of Ships’ Tank Coatings’, Keith Lucas, Director of Center for Corrosion Science & Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory

3.      OPEN FORUM.  

3.1       Robin Oakley (QinetiQ) mentioned a problem with a CuNi seawater system heat exchanger.  Coating with electroless Ni with PTFE particles to stop biofouling has been tried.  This was an alternative to chemical cleaning which wasn’t possible.  Galvanic compatibility of these materials?  It was felt that this type of coating would be very porous, giving micro-cracks.  Electroless nickel preparations often involve phosphoric acid or phosphates.  Phosphorus and CuNi don’t go well together.  It was felt that the natural biofouling resistance of CuNi should be utilised, if possible. 

3.2      EUROCORR 2006 - EFC WP9 – MARINE CORROSION.  Roger Francis (Weir) brought the EuroCorr Conference to the attention of members.  Their marine corrosion working party is organising a one day symposium at the above conference (Sept 25^th – 28^th, Maastricht, Holland).  The subject will be laboratory corrosion testing and its relevance to service performance.  Bob Kain (LaQue Labs) has been invited to give the Plenary Lecture.  Bob has been active in the field of marine corrosion testing for 40 years with many publications on a wide range of materials and coatings.  The working party welcomes offers of papers and for more information contact the WP9 chair, Ulf Kivisakk (ulf.kivisakk@sandvik.com).   

Wilhelm Schleich (KME) mentioned that there would be a common session with the Cathodic Protection working party, on sub-sea pipelines.  More details could be found on www.eurocorr06.nl. Papers from, and attendance of, MCF members would be very welcome. 

3.3     Wilhelm Schleich (KME) explained to members that KME and CDA thought that it could be valuable to have an MCF sub-group to discuss research and use of copper alloys in seawater.  If this were set up experiences could be shared, and possible standards could also be discussed.  Details will be circulated to members, and anyone interested in taking part should contact the Secretariat, who will compile a list. 

3.4     Barry Torrance (Aish) had a question on the performance of impressed current electrodes.  He showed a few slides of a steel plate containing a cathode and several anodes immediately after removal from seawater, and also after one night.  There was an interesting pattern around the cathode, which darkened after exposure, but he wondered what it was.  Magnetite, partial oxide or sulphide?  It was suggested that he scrape off some of the black substance and test it with a magnet, since the patterns were typical of those of a magnetic field.  It was most probably magnetite which forms from the initial FeOOH deposit.  The magnetite would be expected to convert easily to reddish Fe₂O₃, which was observed on the plate when left moist overnight. 

4.    TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS  (part 2):

 4.1  Report on first year of MCF-led collaborative project on Erosion-Corrosion, Hang ‘Jackie’ Meng, PhD student (Leeds University), supervisors: Prof. Anne Neville & Dr. Xinming Hu

 4.2   ‘Corrosion in Water Distribution & Closed Recirculating Systems’, Phil Munn (Corrosion & Environmental Services Ltd)