Corrosion home appliances

Other popular alloys of beryllium are those with copper metal. Copper-beryllium alloys contain about 2 percent beryllium. They conduct heat and electricity almost as well as pure copper but are stronger, harder, and more resistant to fatigue (wearing out) and corrosion (rusting). These alloys are used in circuit boards, radar, computers, home appliances, aerospace applications, automatic systems in factories, automobiles, aircraft landing systems, oil and gas drilling equipment, and heavy machinery. 

Home Appliances This is one of the largest consumer products industries. The cost of corrosion in home appliances includes the cost of purchasing replacement appliances because of premature failures caused by corrosion. For water heaters alone, the replacement cost was estimated at 460 million per year, with at least 5% being corrosion related. The cost of internal corrosion protection for all appliances includes the use of sacrificial anodes ( 780 million per year), corrosion-resistant materials, and internal coatings. The annual cost of external corrosion protection with coatings was estimated at 260 million. The total direct corrosion costs are at least 1.5 billion. 

There are some common areas of significant corrosion impact for major home appliances and comfort conditioning appliances. The corrosion types are internal corrosion from process water and external corrosion from wet conditions. 

The most important reason for corrosion in appliances is the water that is being handled by the equipment. This type of corrosion affects the internal components of appliances and limits life expectancy. In the case of home appliances, the appliances most susceptible to internal corrosion are refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dishwashers, and water softeners. The air conditioners, humidifiers, high-efficiency furnaces, dehumidifiers, and boilers are susceptible to internal corrosion. 

The three basic corrosion control methods used in corrosion control of home appliances are (i) corrosion control by sacrificial anodes (ii) use of corrosion-resistant materials (iii) corrosion control by coatings and paint. 

Examples of synthetic resins include phenol-formaldehyde formulations, which withstand boiling water or slightly higher temperatures and are used in the chemical industry in the form of multiple coats, baked on, for resisting a variety of corrosive media. Silicone and polyimide resins are useful at stiU higher temperatures. Alkyd resins, because of favorable cost, fast-drying properties, and durability, have found wide application for protecting the metal surfaces of machinery and home appliances. 

Throughout history, metals have had a decisive effect on human civilization, and they largely condition the way we live today. Electric power, combustion engines, ships, cars, railways, airplanes, production of fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, precision tools, machines, high rise buildings, sanitary systems, home appliances and even computers would not exist without metals. Corrosion and wear limit the useful lifetime of this equipment, reduce their efficiency and often affect their safety. Corrosion control and surface technology are therefore of crucial importance for our technology-based society. 

Alany existing applications involve small adsorption systems for home and automobile applications, eg, refrigerant drying in automobile air conditioners, dual-pane window desiccants, medical oxygen systems, and muffler corrosion protection. Such small adsorption systems will continue to be developed for new uses in indoor air pollution and odor abatement and for the enhancement of the performance of other equipment and appliances. For example, adsorption-based control of the composition of air in refrigerators can provide improvements in the storage of fruits and vegetables. 

Figure 12-4. This Total Environmental Control System in GE Plastics Living Environments Concept House seen in Chapter 1 combines the functions of five home comfort appliances, using TPs to provide aesthetics, heat and corrosion resistance, light weight, and ease of serviceability and installation, and is designed for manufacturability.

At home, corrosion can be seen on vehicle body panels, barbecue grills, outdoor furniture, and metal tools. The main reason for replacing car radiator coolant every year is to replenish the corrosion inhibitor that limits corrosion of the cooling system. Corrosion protection is built into all major household appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers. 

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