In this episode, rail industry expert Lupe Pavon and tank lining expert Steve Liebhart explore service environment, cleaning/surface preparation, and protective lining principles for rail cars in molten sulfur service.
Performance of rail car lining materials varies wildly depending on the commodity. Some commodities are benign enough that a general-purpose epoxy lining might last a generation. But for molten sulfur, owners and shippers are thrilled if even a high-performance epoxy or novolac vinyl ester lasts three years.
Many factors influence the nature and extent of rail tank car lining defects or failures. This discussion explores the common failure modes and offers an introduction to tank car lining repair concepts and strategies.
In the wake of a tank car building boom, there will be more rail tank car linings inspections now and for the next few years than at any time in history. Here's an introduction to inspecting tank car linings.
Proper selection of rail tank car linings ensures years (and sometimes decades) of protection against corrosion of the tank car substrate and purity of lading in transit. Read our introduction to proper lining product selection.
