Insulating joints are a crucial tool for everything from energy companies to water suppliers, and from bridge-builders to militaries, but their role is not very well known. This is a shame, because these components are some of the most important in the engineering world, and have allowed for infrastructure projects to be built in increasingly extreme environments.
Insulating joint products protect against corrosion
But what do insulating joints do? Well, these components are generally placed around or inside items that clients want to protect from corrosion. The way that they prevent corrosion is by a technique known as cathode protection. This involves placing a material alongside whatever needs to be protected. If it is a steel pipeline, then the cathode protector could be aluminium. When an electrical current is channelled along the pipeline, the aluminium becomes an anode, and the steel acts as a cathode. The anode attracts corrosive materials, and protects the pipeline from falling apart.
Small pipelines are commonly used in heating systems, energy distribution, as well as water and supplies to homes. Pipelines like this may well need to be protected by the kind of insulating joint manufactured by Meccanica Segrino. The company manufactures insulating joints for all forms of piping, including underground pipes, which should always be protected from corrosion.
When placed at intervals along a piping system, insulating joints break up the flow of current produced by natural phenomena such as lightning, providing complete protection from corrosion for as long as the joint lasts. Because cathode protection operates by attracting current to the anode, such joints need to be replaced periodically, but have become more and more efficient.
The isolation joint products manufactured by Meccanica Segrino
Meccanica Segrino manufactures both service and main line insulating joints. Their products include innovations such as hot forged "bells" (the main chamber of the joint) which are specially hardened to provide protection against physical stress. They also include sealing gaskets that are made from thermoplastic polyester elastomer. This does not react with petroleum, making the joint far safer when used with fuel pipes.
Every insulating joint is designed to deal with specific levels of pressure, and Meccanica Segrino manufactures a wide range of different specifications (at ANSI levels 150, 300, 400 and 600). All of these joints are also quality assured by an ISO 9001:2008 quality certification, as well as internal quality control mechanisms which ensure that each insulation joint will stand up effectively when deployed in the field.
Without products like the isolation joint, the cost of transporting energy in the form of oil, petroleum and gas would be far higher. Bridges would corrode more quickly and ships would not be able to withstand long ocean voyages. Even concrete buildings are strengthened by cathode protection. The environment presents extreme challenges to engineers, and the insulation joints manufactured by Meccanica Segrino help to overcome some of the most severe engineering problems.