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Expert has over 35 years of experience in practical aspects of materials utilization involving steels, stainless and high alloy steels, nickel and nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys, and titanium and titanium alloys in many corrosive environments. His experience has primarily involved localized phenomena such as pitting, crevice corrosion, erosion corrosion, selective attack, and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). He has special expertise in formicary (ant-nest) corrosion of copper and SCC of copper under elastomeric insulation. He has considered design, application, and performance of materials in natural environments (atmospheric, waters, soils), and for most sectors of industry including chemicals, petrochemicals, foodstuffs, beverages, utilities, nuclear, pulp and paper, bio-medical, transportation, and plumbing. He offers a two-day seminar called "Overcoming the Challenge of Corrosion."

He offers Advisory services, Troubleshooting and Failure Analysis (Cause and Origin) investigations on malfunctioning machinery and equipment, including component breakdowns, structural collapse, fire, heat and flood damage.

Examples include isolated breakdowns in process plant and equipment, piping, water mains, storage vessels, underground storage tanks, reactors, machinery, aerosol cans, tools, chairs, ladders, plumbing, wire ropes, elevators and escalators, automobiles and transportation vehicles, ships and cargoes.

He has experience with all common engineering materials including: Aluminum and alloys, Copper and alloys, Cast Irons, Steels, Stainless Steels, Nickel and alloys, Titanium and alloys and Refractory metals in natural environments (atmospheric, waters, soils), and many industrial corrosives. Corrosion Failures analyzed include: General and Localized Attack, Pitting, Crevice Corrosion, Dealloying, Erosion Corrosion, Formicary Corrosion, Fatigue and Stress Corrosion Cracking. Specialty areas include formicary (ant nest) corrosion of copper and SCC under insulation.

Expert has experience with major plant failures – including process plant, refineries, gas turbines boilers, pipelines and buildings – after explosions, fires, chemical release, flood damages and structural collapse.

He is an experienced expert witness in metallurgy, materials selection, failure analysis, design and corrosion-related issues.

He has a special expertise in high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion, notably associated with power generation (boilers, gas turbines, waste incinerators, heat exchangers, reactors, kilns, and reformers. He has undertaken research on materials performance in hot waste combustion atmospheres, including sulfur-rich gases, metal-halogen vapor reactions (chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and iodine), molten salt corrosion (vanadic slags, sulfatic melts) and molten glass reactions with metals. He has assessed plant and equipment following fires and explosions. He has written and teaches a two-day seminar on "Materials for high-temperature service," offered by NACE International.

His special expertise in high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion, notably associated with power generation (boilers, gas turbines), waste incinerators, heat exchangers, recuperators, kilns, reactors and reformers, has been utilized in resolving major plant failures in process plant, refineries, gas turbines, boilers, pipelines and buildings. Cases include: Explosions, Fires, Flood Damages and Structural Collapse.

His published research includes materials performance in hot waste combustion atmospheres, including: Sulfur-rich Gases, Halogen Gases (Chlorine, HCl, Fluorine, HF, Bromine, and Iodine), Molten Salt Corrosion (Vanadic Slags and Sulfatic melts) and Molten Glasses.

Expert has over 35 years experience with site surveys, failure analyses, metallurgical testing and chemical analysis, including laboratory simulation and testing, (salt spray and humidity cabinets, coupon testing and electrochemical techniques). He has experience with on-line electrochemical monitoring systems and has networking arrangements with laboratories that specialize in these techniques.

Expert has advised many organizations on materials selection and performance and undertakes failure analyses. He has organized and presented in-house seminars to a variety of companies as well. Expert consults for several material manufacturers and product developers. His consulting work has included work for several government committees. He has conducted surveys in the food and beverage industry. He has provided input to regulatory bodies who specify requirements for food and beverages. He works with persons from all disciplines and from all sectors of industry in helping them to better appreciate, understand, and ultimately eliminate or control corrosion.

Acidic corrosion processes vary for reducing acids (where the cathodic reaction primarily involves the reduction of hydrogen ions to atomic and then molecular hydrogen) versus oxidizing acids (where the cathodic reaction reduces the acidic anion, e.g., brown oxides of nitrogen are produced by steel in dilute/moderate concentrations of nitric acid). Material performance in acidic conditions is dictated by temperature and concentration; impurities influence attack.

Commonly: sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), ammonia, potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), calcium hydroxide (caustic lime) and sodium carbonate (easily hydrolyzed to NaOH at temperature). With most metals and alloys develop insoluble hydroxides that limits attack; hydrogen forms on amphoteric metals (i.e., those attacked by both acid and alkali), e.g., Al, Zn. Irons, steels find applications to moderate concentrations; Fe-Cr alloys actively corroded above ambient; limitations include caustic embrittlement (SCC). Nickel alloys generally resistant, as are titanium and zirconium.

Expert has devoted many years in understanding the degradation of materials, specifically how and why materials corrode in natural environments and in most other industries, including food & beverages, chemical, energy, oil & gas, utilities. He has special expertise in high temperature corrosion.

He examined and reported on an explosion of an alloy steel urea reactor; subsequently testified successfully in Court attributing blame to poor process plant operation and control. He has examined, confirmed and reported on premature failures in copper tubing used for HVAC systems. Formicary corrosion (evident as very fine pits) sources and causes. He surveyed and reported to insurers on the condition of reactors, vessels and piping that experienced different levels of damage from a refinery plant fire. He examined discolored metal roof panels on a refurbished property that others attributed (incorrectly) to a nearby marine environment. His conclusions were upheld in a subsequent arbitration and trial. He reviewed and tested surgical devices that failed through defective fabrication not improper use. Litigation.