MY ETT News » corrosion

Grote Industries introduces Ultra-Link-Coil-Cords

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:55:33 +0000

A new coil cord product from Grote Industries promises to exceed expectations of strength, durability and corrosion resistance in its performance. Ultra-Link-Coil-Cords are manufactured with extremely durable materials, including advanced polymer jackets, which are designed to perform flawlessly between 55 degrees below zero to over 190 degrees F, and solid brass terminals, which are corrosion resistant, according to the company.

Grote's Ultra-Link-Coil-Cords Designed for Extreme Durability

Grote Industries, a provider of high-performance LED lighting technology for the transportation industry, has introduced its new Grote-manufactured Ultra-Link-Coil-Cords.

“Competitors often produce coil cords using stamped terminals with minimal thickness,” said Bob Dobrow, business development manager for power delivery systems for Grote Industries. “Their plug bodies are subject to crushing and do not prevent water from entering. We have engineered our new coil cords with extremely durable materials, such as advanced polymer jackets and solid brass terminals. Our new coil cord will offer levels of strength and reliability that will exceed most other coil cords on the market.”

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Flood warnings: ArvinMeritor offers advice on trucks that have been submerged in water

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:22:26 +0000

After heavy rains and flooding in parts of the U.S. and Canada, ArvinMeritor is offering maintenance and inspections tips to vehicle owners whose equipment may have been submerged in water. Perhaps the most important tip is not starting the vehicle, as it may cause further damage.

Prolonged, heavy rains in parts of the US and Canada are reminders that brakes, wheel ends, universal joints, and other important heavy-duty vehicle components that have been submersed in water require a thorough inspection for damage. ArvinMeritor offers advice about the steps vehicle owners should take before the vehicle returns to service:

1. Don’t Start the Vehicle: You risk further component damage if the vehicle’s air lines, wheel-end sensors, seals, or electrical connections are contaminated by water.

2. Ask About Special Service Bulletins: Ask your suppliers or their field representatives about recommended service procedures for submerged components. ArvinMeritor has publications that specifically address the inspection and service of submerged components. Call ArvinMeritor’s Customer Service Center at 800-535-5560 or access publications in the Tech Library on ArvinMeritor’s Web site at www.arvinmeritor.com.

3. Record the Conditions: Determine how long the vehicle or component was submerged. Note the type of water – saltwater or fresh – and any special conditions like heavy silt or chemical contaminants. Look for waterlines, dampness, or other indicators of the depth of the water and inform your technician.

4. Clarify Whether Parts are Warrantable or Serviceable: In general, components that are damaged by flooding are not warrantable. Some components, like the transmission, may need to be returned to the manufacturer for service.

5. Inspect, Clean, Replace: From the brake system to the wheel ends, there are special inspection and service procedures for components, air lines, wiring, and connections that have been submersed in water.

In some cases – universal joints and center bearings, for example – inspection isn’t possible and the component should be replaced. Use OEM-quality replacement parts that match the safety, reliability, or durability of the original. In other cases, the component must be completely disassembled and checked for water and contaminant damage that includes, but is not limited to, rust and corrosion.

Returning a vehicle to service after a flood requires a careful, comprehensive inspection to ensure that your components will perform as expected. Before you move the vehicle or make a repair, contact your component supplier’s customer service center or field representative about special procedures for vehicles affected by flooding.

[source - trucknews.com]

Phillips says Q-Box has more room for trailer wires

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:51:48 +0000

Minding your P’s and Q’s with trailer wiring just got easier with the introduction of Phillips Industries Q-Box. With more room to hold and organize trailer wiring, the Q-Box is also designed to protect interior wiring from corrosion, chemicals and extreme weather. The Q-Box is outfitted with Phillips’ QCS2 Quick-Connect Socket to help facilitate quick replacement of worn sockets.

Phillips Industries says its Q-Box has 50 percent more interior room to keep as many trailer wires as required organized and pinch-free. Supplemental electrical trailer systems, such as trailer-tracking and weigh-in-motion systems, leave little room for proper wire storage and manipulation in standard junction boxes. Phillips says that with the Q-Box, mechanics have plenty of room for additional wires and repairs, and they no longer have to use “shoulder leverage” to close an overloaded nosebox.

The Q-Box is outfitted with Phillips’ QCS2 Quick-Connect Socket to help facilitate quick replacement of worn sockets. The housing is designed to be durable and weather-resistant to help keep interior wiring sealed against corrosion, chemicals and extreme weather. The Q-Box can be purchased without circuit breakers or with quick-change 15-, 20- or 30-amp circuit breakers included.

For more information, go to www.phillipsind.com.

[source - etrucker.com]

Win the fight against corrosion

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:19:21 +0000

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that corrosion costs the nation’s transportation industry and its infrastructure $30 billion each year. Road salt chemicals are to blame. The most destructive chemicals are magnesium chloride and calcium chloride because they cling to the underbody of vehicles and re-crystallize as they slowly dry out. These chemical crystals attract and absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, keeping them in semi-solution for extended periods of time, which multiplies their corrosive nature. The good news is trailer makers and suppliers have solutions. Trailer technology advancements Trailer and component manufacturers have been working on products that help combat the destructive effects of those chemicals. For instance, the engineering experts at Great Dane have developed undercoating compounds specifically designed to provide a protective barrier against this harsh environment. CorroGuard, the company’s newest defense against corrosion, is a spray-in-place thermoplastic coating that protects the undercarriage. Not only does it protect against harmful road chemicals and temperature extremes, but also it provides an air- and water-tight seal that will not peel, crack, flake or split. The coating is also pliable over time and can withstand prolonged UV exposure. Corrosion-resistant paint products already in use at Great Dane are Valpar’s Dry-Flex undercoat, a soft and flexible film that’s designed to resist stone chipping and temperature extremes while blocking moisture from reaching the steel components of the underbody. Crossmembers are dipped in a specially formulated, high-temperature, hot-melt wax compound that effectively blocks corrosion by sealing the steel from the environment, the company says. Vanguard National Trailer Corp. has identified a number of areas where corrosion resistance is essential and has incorporated appropriate design elements in its VXP Composite Plate and VIP 4000 and MaxCube freight vans. For example, galvanized materials are standard on all three of its models for rear frames, including gussets, rear underride guards, threshold plates, front aprons on the upper coupler, landing-gear brackets and bracing, mud-flap brackets, front wall posts, internal bulkheads, roof bows and logistics posts. The company’s trailers also feature a galvanized steel scuff band above an extruded aluminum inner base rail, as well as extruded aluminum front top rails and radius corners. The trailers maker also uses a galvanized, one-piece front understructure between the upper coupler and the landing gear and galvanized air/electrical channels on each side to protect those system components against the effect of road de-icing chemicals. To prevent galvanic corrosion at the bottom of plymetal construction doors, Wabash National Corp. said it has eliminated plywood from its rear doors and is using a foamed polyethylene core similar to that used in its Duraplate composite sidewalls. The material does not absorb moisture and has the added benefit of allowing door seals to be screwed in place. By contrast, fasteners on wood core doors can act as moisture conduits and are often destroyed by corrosion from the inside, the trailer maker notes. Component manufacturers SAF-Holland offers a coating, Black Armour, which is designed to react with any metal that oxidizes, and, in effect, destroy corrosion. The company notes that it causes steel to grow a new protective skin that is 10 times more impervious to water than a swimming-pool coating. It has a corrosion package that never allows it to shrink, and it also compresses, which means that if it is struck hard, it does not shatter but remains intact. Compatible with a growing list of Holland landing-gear products, in addition, Black Armour base coating meets a prescribed performance factor, the company says. The same coating also is being used on some of the manufacturer’s suspension components and will be called by the Black Armour name once it meets standards in those applications. The coating also can be top-coated with any paint and does not require pre-sanding, meaning existing trailer components can be refurbished in a cost-effective manner. CORSOL, which is supplied by PRP Industries, is the technology behind Holland’s Black Armour and it is also in use by some trailer OEMs and fleets. Lighting and electrical systems Proper maintenance helps reduce the impact of corrosion on trailer components including lighting and electrical systems. According to Truck-Lite Co., it uses the most corrosion-resistant metal available in the plugs, but if water or “conductive” dirt gets in the plug, it can provide a shortcut for the voltage, which corrodes away the metal in the plug. The answer is to use new plugs and plenty of grease. If possible, move the lights to a more protected area and/or add a module box for protection. In addition, the company advises that fleets treat the electrical system with a non-conductive anti-corrosion compound. The purpose of the sealant is to totally encapsulate and protect against corrosion and water. Grote Industries agrees and points out that corrosion is one the “eight major causes of safety lighting failures.” It recommends specifying lighting products that are sealed, because corrosion around the bulb sockets cannot approach the bulb when it is sealed within a lamp housing. To further protect against corrosion, all electrical wiring connections should be sealed against moisture with a non-conductive, non-sodium based grease in areas like electrical contacts, circuit switches and junction boxes, the company says. Remember to wash Great Dane suggests two simple preventive maintenance steps to help avoid major repairs of a trailer in the long run. Frequent washing with a properly mixed ratio of fresh water and soap, especially in the undercarriage area, helps remove corrosive chemicals used for deicing. Cleaning procedures should include a low to mild pressure application to ensure against lifting fresh/new coatings at abraded areas as well as thorough rinsing. Repair any damaged areas of coatings as soon as possible to prevent spot corrosion that can spread. More to come The Technology and Maintenance Council is currently gathering data from fleet members to determine exactly which components are susceptible to corrosion problems and the costs caused by corrosion. It will then decide what priorities will be placed on programs aimed at solving these problems. We’ll keep you posted. FE

Electrical system corrosion prevention tips • Use heavy-duty, adhesive-lined heat shrink tubing on all electrical connections. • Protect battery posts and terminal with anti-corrosive protector spray. • Check ground power source. Always make sure ground leads directly to the negative battery post. Grounding to the chassis or engine will lead to corrosion, poor contacts and faulty electrical operations. • Store electrical and air coils in stowage devices when not in use for extended periods of time. • Rotate electrical assembly plugs. To safeguard against uneven wear, swap plug ends from tractor to trailer side every six months. • Do not pierce wire jacketing. This causes wicking, which creates a leak path for contaminants to seep in that rots the wire from the inside out. • Wash equipment frequently during cold weather to reduce build up. Do not power wash because water can be forced into areas and cannot escape, which leads to corrosion. • Grease plugs and socket pins with dielectric grease after every cleaning. • Clean connectors every six months using a plug and socket brush with water (no soap). • Inspect cables and wires for road hazard damage and replace or repair damaged items. • Be cautious of soaps containing degreasers. When degreasers come into contact with electrical connections, it increases the corrosion reaction. Do not leave soap residue on electrical connections. Phillips Industries: www.phillipsind.com .