The operation in corrosive marine environment makes necessary to investigate strategies to mitigate corrosion and marine fou-ling and to study the interactions between materials and real marine environment. New developments of materials or coatings need to be tested in a real marine exposure test site.

Introduction

Marine Corrosion Test Site “El Bocal”

In the Marine Corrosion Test Site (MCTS) “El Bocal” the effects on specimens of the three corrosion marine environments: submerged, tidal and splash, can be studied. The designed setup makes possible to cover a wide range of corrosion effects.

Testing zones

MCTS El Bocal

Test specimensA wide range of specimens can be tested in the MCTS “El Bocal”. The standard probes measurements are 390x100mm although another sizes can be considered upon request. In addition, pieces of other components, such as fishing nets, ropes, steel wires offshore chains or materials for aquaculture cages could be placed and tested.

Services and SupportThe typical projects developed in this facility are testing of corrosion protection systems (e.g. coatings), testing of sensors and components for offshore applications and testing of anti-fouling systems. Services offered by CTC in relation to this facility are:

• Analysis of influence of offshore environmental conditions on materials and its degradation.• Determination of corrosion rates.• Influence of biofouling and microbiological induced corrosion.• Testing of anti-fouling and protective coatings and corrosion protection systems.• Validation of obtained results in laboratory (e.g. salt fog environmental chamber, UV environmental chamber…).• Transport and installation of samples on MCTS “El Bocal”.• Optical inspection and assessment of the samples in pre-decided intervals.• Procurement of technological advice concerning the enviromental effects due to different marine conditions.

Fundación Centro Tecnológico de ComponentesParque Científico y Tecnológico de CantabriaC/ Isabel Torres Nº 1 - 39011 SantanderTel: (+34) 942 76 69 76 - Fax: (+34) 942 10 08 37info@ctcomponentes.com | www.ctcomponentes.es

LocationMCTS “El Bocal” is located in the north coast of Spain, few kilometers away from Santander, in the facilities of the Marine Culture Centre of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), an idoneous site with an easy access for testing and monitoring activities. CTC and IEO have signed an agreement for its use. The facility is placed in open water so that specimens to be tested are subjected to real offshore environment. Corrosion and biofouling conditions are quite similar to the ones a typical offshore structure faces along its life cycle.

MCTS El Bocal