Rapra sponsors PACE 2004.

PACE 2004 (Polymers in Aggressive and Corrosive Environments), sponsored by Rapra Technology Ltd., will be held September 8-9 in Cologne, Germany.

This two-day conference will focus on the use of polymers (including thermoplastics, rubbers, reinforced plastics and coatings) in aggressive and/or corrosive environments.

Aggressive chemical environments are surprisingly common, and not just in the pipe or chemical industries, according to Rapra. Cleaning fluids, solvents, aircraft and vehicle oils and fuels, bleach, oxidizing agents, acids and alkalis are said to present a corrosion threat. Even ordinary water and steam can induce damage over time.

Plastics and reinforced plastics can resist some of the chemicals that are most damaging to metals, although they may themselves be susceptible to stress cracking as a result of the combination of stress and chemicals, according to Rapra. There may be a deterioration in their mechanical properties as a result of swelling by the liquid. Food packaging, landfill membranes and medical devices also need to be able to withstand the processes of permeation and diffusion.

Polymer coatings can be used to protect metal substrates. Rubber products are sometimes deployed in corrosive situations, often requiring careful choice of the elastomer. It is desirable for all these corrosion resistant materials to be able to withstand a wide range of operating temperatures, as well as corrosive chemicals, according to Rapra.

This conference will present information on new materials for resisting corrosive environments, such as those encountered in sewerage and other pipe, the offshore oil industry, oil drilling and transportation, the chemical and petrochemical industries, vehicles, aircraft, marine applications, medical devices, kitchen and food equipment, and plastics packaging.

New knowledge and theories about the behavior of plastics, rubbers, reinforced plastics and polymer coatings will be presented, along with case histories.

Examples of situations calling for improved anti-corrosion polymers will be presented. Fundamentals and applied research into the behavior of polymers in anti-corrosion applications will also be presented.

Along with technical presentations, PACE 2004 will also feature a table top exhibition to run alongside the conference.

Further information on PACE 2004 is available from Sharon Garrington, tel.: [phone]; fax: [phone].