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Removal and Replacement of Old Metallium Joints
Author(s) -
Christense Joel
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.1986.tb00193.x
Subject(s) - joint (building) , piping , expansive , cracking , moisture , forensic engineering , engineering , materials science , metallurgy , composite material , structural engineering , environmental engineering , compressive strength
This article describes the removal and replacement of old metallium joints at the Florence, Nebraska, filter plant. In April 1983, cracked joints in wash‐water piping began to appear at the plant. Joint cracking was attributed to two main factors: the affected joints had been painted with a vinyl‐type paint, which prevented moisture from escaping from the joints; and corrosion products from sulfur and iron had apparently created expansive forces, which cracked the hubs. After initial repairs, work was begun in 1984 to remove all cracked valves and other metallium joints and repour them with lead. Sandblasting was used to remove the metallium joint compound. The problems encountered in this process and the solutions that were devised are presented. In total, 23 tons of sand and 4600 pounds of lead were used, and eight cracked 20 inch valves were removed. One hundred and twenty metallium joints were cleaned; 22 of these were eliminated and 98 were repoured with lead. The costs of this project are listed.