Rust or corrosion is one of the biggest enemies of any industrial plants containing metal parts. Be it pipes, valves, storage tanks, conveyors or simple fences and guard rails – they all tend to rust over time. The reason could be humid environments in which they operate, influence of chemicals they are exposed to or simple atmospheric impact. Either way, rust is no good. It gradually thins the walls of the part on which it appears and will inevitably lead to rupture in the affected area. It’s a common problem in industries like oil and gas operations, mines and quarries, waste-water treatment, even maintenance of the buildings or agricultural and construction equipment. Generally, any maintenance engineer in almost any industry will have encountered the problem at least once.

The usual ways to combat rust include sanding it off and painting over the affected area. While this does work, the process has to be repeated many, many times as rust tends to be extremely stubborn. And you can only sand the same area so many times before you’ve thinned the wall too much for the part to remain functional.

Instead, you can use a product that converts rust into a stable chemical component and protects the area from corrosion. At the same time, it already provides a primer ready for painting. Loctite SF 7500 is the name of the product, although in some markets you might find Loctite SF 7600. The products are very similar, but it’s always advisable to consult an expert before making a decision.