Having been involved in corrosion protection for more than 25 years, I read with interest your article on the protection system developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (
Production Engineering, 24 April).
It struck me as similar to the thermal spray coating method known as 'aluminising', where molten particles of aluminium, or an aluminium or nickel-chromium alloy, or a combination, are applied to a ferrous substrate and heat-treated. This creates a similar multi-layered surface structure, including a pseudo-alloy layer, to that described in the new method.
An established application method such as thermal spraying would be a simpler solution to generate the necessary amount of aluminium at the surface — and such a method is solvent free.
Justin Ruddock
Penfold Metallising Co
Make your point to The Engineer and take off with bmi
How to enter
Write a letter to The Engineer magazine and you could win a pair of tickets to one of bmi’s European destinations, courtesy of our friends at the airline.
Flexible and competitive
bmi asked 10,000 customers ‘what would make a great airline?’
The answer was clear: competitive fares, more choice and less time wasted at airports. So bmi acted, introducing a unique fare structure on domestic and European short-haul flights to and from London Heathrow. Thanks to three fare options — including premium economy, with benefits including lounge access and flexibility — you choose the services you want, depending on your business trip.
What’s more, bmi has streamlined the passenger process from the moment of buying the ticket, to your passage through the airport, to boarding the aircraft. You can book e-tickets online and then check in online at home, in your office, or even on the move.
Alternatively, there are self-check-in machines and priority check-in desks at the airport. You can even use bmi ‘web points’ to check in online at the airport, if that’s more convenient. All this means you can save valuable time from booking, right until your plane takes off.
The prize
Try the smart approach for yourself, courtesy of bmi. The winner of The Engineer’s Letter of the Month prize for April, as selected by the editor, will win a pair of tickets from London Heathrow to any destination on bmi’s European mainline network.
Click here for terms and conditions.
The Engineer
Glasgow trial explores AR cues for autonomous road safety
They've ploughed into a few vulnerable road users in the past. Making that less likely will make it spectacularly easy to stop the traffic for...