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Masters of Disaster:
Rusty Invaders
Is vapor corrosion inhibiting chemistry
the answer to a telecom prayer?
In the connectivity business, signal continuity, extended component
life, increased reliability and reduced downtime are all critical
service quality issues. Digital and analog systems may require frequent
search and rescue missions. New replacement hubs, switches, bridges,
and connectors may restore signal flow to cables and wires that
have fallen prey to atmospheric corrosion. Replacements are expensive
and may cost valuable time.
Its all in the attitude
An example of an industry search and rescue mission is an installer
that replaced a cell sight antenna repeatedly, in a very short period
of time. Shortly after each replacement, the antennas power
output continued to drop a repeat of the original problem.
Was there a transmitter problem? No. The culprit was a corroded
support bolt that was interfering with the originating transmitted
signal with its own sympathetic vibrations. Three antennas were
replaced before the culprit was discovered. Worst yet, nothing was
done to prevent future corrosion at other potential corrosion sites.
The installers mentality was; "if it fails again, well
go out and fix it again." This attitude hurts everyone. Even
though the primary cause of electrical and electronic failure is
loss of continuity caused by corrosion, many component manufacturers
avoid metal protection fearing signal loss or signal alteration.
The fact is that few installers or manufacturers concern themselves
with life extension past expected duty life.
Where there is an elevated potential for corrosion, electrical
and Products for Protection of Electronics and Electrics experience protracted downtime and turn-around
time due to frequent service calls and replacement. Humidity, acid
rain, and salt-laden atmospheres may, and do, literally consume
circuitry conductors. Traditional corrosion prevention technologies
are oftentimes less than effective. In other words, it was less
costly to react to failures than to try to prevent them. Even though
the impact of corrosion prevention reduces maintenance, extends
the life of hardware, and provides over-all better quality customer
service, many fail to recognize this issue. In fact, extending electrical
and/or electronic life and performance on an ongoing basis is not
a common practice. Instead companies opt for replacement over pro-active
protection and maintenance. This is a plan for disaster.
Preventing losses
Connectivity businesses may incur replacement and labor costs from
$25,000 to $500,000 per occurrence to maintain equipment at peak
operational capacity. According to studies by Battelle Research,
the effects of corrosion costs American business more than $350
billion in lost revenues each year. Most of these losses may be
prevented. Our new age electronics are being treated with old age
solutions. As much as 90 percent of the traditional corrosion protection
methods used are using toxic ingredients and out of date petroleum-based
technologies. Today, new and innovative high-tech corrosion control
solutions are real, they work, and they dont impact the environment.
They are called Cortec Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors. This technology
is a breakthrough in the way we traditionally think about protecting
electronics.
Cortec Corp. is one leader in research and development of VCI
vapor corrosion inhibiting chemistry for the telecommunications
industry. VCIs are used on high- and low-voltage applications, RF
equipment, contacts, switches, and circuits and many telecommunication
components. VCIs do not alter characteristics such as dielectric
strength, resistance and electrical, electronic, or optical characteristics.
VCIs defend against corrosion at a mono-molecular level, protecting
metals electrochemically with a barrier that re-heals and self-replenishes
itself. The technology works at the free ion level to actually change
and neutralize the galvanic composition of a corrosion cell site.
It works in high humidity and even high salt environments. (Its
used by the Navy onboard ships). This technology changes everything.
Its easy, fast, sure fire, and doesnt contain any carcinogens
or ingredients that may harm the environment. Its the 21st
century technology corrosion solution for 21st century electronics.
In todays electronics, corrosion destroys at unseen micro-crystalline
levels. As electronic circuits become more micro, corrosion wont
reduce; in fact, the effects will be even more devastating. When
electrons stop flowing, communication components fail. VCIs prevent
these failures. For pennies, a cell phone could be protected with
VCI technology that would virtually eliminate electronic failure.
From electronic interface connections, control boards, cellular
components, and antennas telecommunications companies leave
high-end missions to environmental chance. Something as simple as
a rusty bolt or a corroded chip may dash the promise of real-time
connectivity and result in consumer dissatisfaction and unrecoverable
profit loss.
Corrosion prevention is the solution. Lowering the risk of component
failure reduces product liability, and the loss of customer good
will. Advanced chemical technologies, such as Cortec VCIs have been
developed with superior results letting high-capacity infrastructures
work efficiently sparing limited customer access. The growing market
must meet increased demands for service, training, replacement positions
for additional technicians, and advanced technologies that improve
product performance and longevity.
With newer, faster, and smaller e-technologies looming on the horizon,
customers are demanding more. The viability and reliability of networks
are dependent on transmission wire media and metal construction.
All of these systems are susceptible to environmental destruction.
Replacement may serve the economics of supplier and distributor,
but does not serve the customer. Prevention is the necessary and
reasonable solution.
Oleh Artym is marketing director for Rawn
America, a division of Cortec. He may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
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