Corrosion Chronicles Podcast

In this episode, Evan Lowrance, Corporate NDT Engineer at Webco Industries, and Jonathan Konerza, Tubing Division Manager at Sentinel Integrity Solutions, join co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook for an in-depth look at eddy current testing (ECT) of heat exchanger tubes. Together, they break down how ECT works, the differences between internal and external testing, and how factors like magnetism and material conductivity influence test results. The conversation explores how eddy current testing compares to IRIS testing, what types of defects ECT is best suited to detect, and where its limitations exist. Evan and Jonathan also discuss the importance of reference standards, technician qualification, and tailoring inspection programs to expected degradation mechanisms. The episode wraps with practical insight into evaluating NDE providers and recognizing warning signs that testing may not be delivering reliable results.

In this episode, Danny Mock, managing partner for M10 Process Equipment, Inc., joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to take listeners inside the world of column internals and the fundamentals that drive mass-transfer performance. Danny breaks down what mass-transfer equipment is and how internals efficiency is evaluated, offering practical insight into design considerations that influence reliability and long-term operation. He discusses the importance of selecting materials with appropriate corrosion allowances, how internals are attached and supported, and what engineers should know about bolted fasteners, dissimilar metals, tray flatness, and the risks associated with creep and thermal expansion. The conversation also covers column fires, static charge generation, and the role of random packing in modern column design. Whether you're troubleshooting existing towers or designing new equipment, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the details that matter most inside a process column.

In this episode, Mukesh Ahlavadi, Global Director of the Chemicals Market at NobelClad, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to explore the world of metal cladding and its critical role in modern engineering applications. Together, they provide an overview of hot roll bonding versus explosion cladding, examining the key drivers behind each process and why industries turn to cladding for enhanced material performance and corrosion resistance. Mukesh walks through essential fabrication considerations, including the use of batten strips, interlayers, and post-cladding operations, while sharing insights into heat treatment, forming clad plate, and lessons learned from a 1990s clad failure. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how explosion cladding was discovered, the mechanics of the process, and how the distinctive wave pattern at the clad interface reflects quality and bonding integrity.

In this episode, Kevin Ganschow, materials & corrosion consultant at Mechanical Materials Engineering, LLC, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to unpack the intricacies of gasketed joints. The discussion begins with a foundational look at flange assemblies as systems before diving into key factors such as gasket stress, bolt reuse, and lubrication. Kevin highlights best practices for bolted joint assembly and integrity programs, emphasizing the importance of assembler training, flange tagging, and condition assessment. The episode also explores advanced considerations including joint relaxation, hot tightening, hot bolting, and bolt relaxation, offering practical insights for engineers and operators aiming to enhance reliability and safety in their systems.

In this episode, Jennifer Larimore and Avery Boyer, Materials Engineers at Chemours, join co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to share an inside look at how a materials lab works. Jennifer and Avery walk through the step-by-step process of analyzing samples—from sectioning, cleaning, reviewing documentation and photographing through the final wrap up of documenting and communicating findings to the customer. They discuss analysis methods like nondestructive evaluation, XRF identification... 

In this episode, Cathleen Shargay, Advisor of Materials and Welding Engineering at Becht, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to explore the complexities of materials selection during project execution. The conversation covers a wide range of essential topics, from understanding what materials selection diagrams (MSDs) are and how they interface with process engineering, to evaluating life cycle cost inputs and establishing design life... 

In this episode, Nate Sutton, materials engineer at Equity Engineering, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook for a deep dive into high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA) and the evolving guidance used to evaluate and mitigate its risks. He shares firsthand insights on the origins and evolution of Nelson curves, the role of post-weld heat treatment, and the recent development... 

In this episode, Ana Benz, IRIS NDT Chief Engineer, discuss choosing NDE techniques based on the expected damage mechanism. Specific topics include: recent advances in radiography, field-based hardness testing, imaging of hardness testing indents to understand effectiveness, proper cleaning for NDE inspections... 

In this episode, Murray Pearson, Director, HPM Technology Development, Metals at Hatch, joins hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to delve into the intricacies of abrasion, erosion, and erosion corrosion. They explore the impact of these phenomena on various equipment types... 

In this episode, Ben Sprengard, managing director of innovation at Enerfab, sits down with co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to discuss fabrication considerations for duplex stainless steels. They explore key topics, including property comparisons to austenitic stainless steels, forming... 

In this episode, Stephen Clarke joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to dive into the world of mining and mineral processing. They break down the differences between hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, explore various leaching methods, and discuss solvent extraction and electrowinning... 

In this episode, Arun Sreeranganathan, principal at Stress Engineering Services, sits down with co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to discuss creep in the context of chemical facilities. They chat about: the definition of creep, homologous temperature, creep in plastics, contrasting creep with SRC, How the ASME code handles the subject, creep curves... 

In this episode, Ben McCurry, Senior Expert of Materials Engineering and Inspection at BASF Corporation, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to dive into the world of corrosion testing. They cover a wide range of topics, including the purpose of corrosion testing, lab testing versus in-situ methods, and the use of corrosion resistance tables. The discussion explores valuable insights from sister plants, decision-making criteria for conducting tests, and the design of coupons. They also tackle ...

In this episode, Jan-willem Rensman, Fellow at Fluor and subject matter expert in metallurgy and welding, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook for an in-depth discussion on stress relaxation cracking (SRC). Together, they cover topics including, defining SRC and understanding where and when it occurs, the differences between SRC and creep, managing residual stresses in welds...

In this episode, Dale McIntyre, a designated professional with the Materials Technology Institute, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to dive into the topic of anodic stress corrosion cracking, with a specific focus on chloride stress corrosion cracking (CSCC). They explore key SCC degradation mechanisms...

In this episode, Steve Springer, a Materials Engineer at Chemours Engineering, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to discuss the critical role of flexible hoses in chemical facilities. They cover a range of topics, including a tragic incident that resulted in a fatality, the importance of having a robust hose program, and key considerations in hose design and construction.

In our season 2 premier, Ed Naylor, Senior Materials Engineering Associate at Nouryon, sits down with co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook to discuss storm damage in the context of chemical facilities. They explore how to identify site-specific vulnerabilities, the unique hazards hurricanes pose, and essential preparation steps before storm season...