You are required to independently write a report in no more than 1500 words to analyse and justify popular material selections in practical industries. You need to carry out literature research and make resourceful and appropriate use of your chemistry, physical and materials knowledge.
You may also need to find and use relevant materials property data and charts from the literature in order to address the following specific questions:
1. The use of underground storage tanks for oil, gas and fuels is a common practice in many industry sectors such as the refinery industry. Underground storage tanks have the potential for leakage that can exist undetected for years and cause pollution of the surrounding soil and even groundwater. Identify and briefly explain three major long term failure issues and mechanisms when carbon steels are used as materials of underground storage tanks;
2. Identify and briefly explain three major long term failure issue and mechanisms when aluminium alloys such as AA2024-T3 are used as materials for aircraft skins and structures;
3. Identify and explain the principle of two common technologies for protecting buried carbon steel tanks from corrosion. Comment, with reasonable justification, on potential future materials and corrosion prevention methods that could be used to improve the durability of buried storage tanks.
4. Identify and explain two common technologies for protecting aircraft skins and structures from corrosion. Comment, with reasonable justification, on potential future materials and corrosion prevention methods that could be used to improve the durability of aircraft skins and structures, with particular focus on external corrosion issues.