By Dr. Jane Lomas FICorr, Amtec Corrosion Ltd. Honorary Secretary UK Institute of Corrosion
How My Life in Rust Started?
Way back in the late 1970’s, I saw an advertisement for an M.Sc. degree in corrosion engineering at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and applied. I was accepted into the course and enjoyed learning about corrosion with my fellow students from around the globe. The M.Sc. was completed in 1979 and was followed by a Ph.D. in corrosion under automotive paint. Among other techniques, I was involved with a new and novel electrochemical method called a.c. impedance (now known as impedance spectroscopy) and the early days of electrochemical noise.
At that time, personal computers were still being developed, and there was much time and effort needed to work the equipment and draw our graphs by hand. Electrochemical noise data was captured on rolls of chart paper! Compared with the rapid, automated methods available now, research was a slow process, but it was good to have been involved with the start of using these techniques to investigate corrosion.
My Ph.D. work was followed by research contracts into repair methods of re-bar in concrete; energy transmission through metals and paints due to impact and abrasion; water treatment chemistry; etc. During the pleasant days of research life, it slowly became apparent that I would eventually have to find a “proper job” in the future.
Starting Work
My (late) colleague Dr. Les Callow and I formed a small business, making corrosion monitoring instrumentation and specialist probes. Over the next couple of years, we were asked to carry out more and more laboratory tests for clients using the equipment we manufactured. At the same time, we began working on the first of many failure investigations and after a few years, consultancy became our full-time work.
The Institute of Corrosion
In the early 1990’s, women were rare in the corrosion world, so I applied for (and obtained) professional membership in the Institute of Corrosion. This added further credibility to the growing CV of a young female engineer in the late 1980s.
Joining the North-West branch of ICorr in 1994 increased my network of contacts. I was able to listen to experienced and knowledgeable speakers; develop my own skills in giving talks; and had the opportunity to organise half day branch events. All of which were good experiences for a young corrosion engineer. I have stayed on North-West committee since that time and made many new friends through my participation there.
General Corrosion Consultancy is Varied!
Over the past 40 years, there have been many unusual and enjoyable cases in my working life. Potential clients often call or email with strange and interesting questions. Such as: “Why does my pipe have a hole in it”? They are surprised when you ask for more information!
“Someone threw an old rusty bicycle into my garden. Is that why my gate has now gone rusty”? There is an idea that there is some sort of “rust virus” which can be transmitted from one item to another.
The Corroded Sample
After agreeing to take on a job, some clients suggest they send you a section of the corroded item for investigation in the laboratory. Sometimes it is larger than you expect. This one was nearly 2 metres tall!
The part that we needed for the investigation was a small section of a heat exchanger, but the client did not want to remove it themselves, so they sent the whole item. It was literally dropped off outside the front door of our office building, and we had to cut it up to remove it from the road!
The Highlights of my Life in Rust
- A client insisting that we fly to the USA on Concorde for an urgent meeting.
During my career, there have been, and continue to be, many fun aspects to the job:
- For example, examining the corrosion of the rivets at the very top of Blackpool Tower.
- Going through the Panama and Suez canals on a ship carrying a full load of jet fuel.
- Enjoying a new challenge every week; in consultancy work, every job is different and sometimes it feels like being Sherlock Holmes, trying to find out how and why the rust and other deterioration mechanisms my have occurred.
The Less Exciting Jobs
- At one time, it was not unusual to travel for 27 hours to the job and then be expected to work for the next 12 hours. Thankfully due to Health and Safety regulations that is less common these days.
- Being covered in cargo whilst inspecting ships; I’ve been black with coal dust, white from china clay, red from iron ore, sticky with sugar and slipped about on soya beans!
- Industrial composters leave an odour in your clothes and car that can take days to remove.
- Investigating corrosion in sewage tanks.
Common Challenging Aspects of the Corrosion Engineers Job
- Almost anything related to cherry pickers. (Wind, rain, missing tyres, inexperienced drivers, the engine suddenly cuts out with the basket in the up position).
- The Host asks “Do you want anything to eat?” Then says “Oh sorry, the canteen closed half an hour ago”.
- Waiting for several hours for access to the site and then being allowed only 2 hours to complete a 6-hour inspection plan.
- Almost anything related to cherry pickers.
- A constant challenge for female engineers:
- Ladies toilets? “Walk about 1Km that way. You could use the Gents, but …”
What Next?
After 40 years in corrosion, I’m still working and enjoying the challenges.
Continuing to be an active member of the NW Branch committee, the Current Honorary Secretary and a Trustee of the Institute. A new opportunity awaits in September 2024 as l assume duties of the STSM – Surface Treatment Scheme Manager from John Fletcher who after many years of excellent work is now retiring from this key role in ICorr.
Taking the opportunity to help the next generation of corrosion engineers through the YEP (Young Engineers Programme) and providing information and education about corrosion via the ICorr FOCE (Fundamentals of Corrosion for Engineers) course to assist those seeking Professional ICorr membership and people who want to know more about the different aspects of corrosion.
“A Life in Rust” can be active and challenging through site work or much warmer and drier in a laboratory or classroom. Anyway, it is never boring for sure.
Jane Lomas Delivering Her Lecture at ICorr YEP Launch in London on 25th January 2024.
