Birchwood Technologies now provides two finishing options for oil and gas drilling components: MICROLOK AO and TRU TEMP. According to the company, both finishes are intended to provide robust corrosion protection using a safe, low temperature, environmentally friendly process.
"With U.S. oil and gas production at its highest level in 20 years, the need for finishing components used in the drilling operations also has grown dramatically," said a company spokesperson. "Manufacturers of gas and oil drilling components are expanding rapidly to meet this new demand and are looking for the latest and best manufacturing processes to do the job. Metal finishing is an important last step and old, outdated processes do not always measure up - particularly when it comes to worker safety and environmental concerns. Birchwood Technologies provides two options that satisfy both safety and environmental concerns.
"The MICROLOK AO process forms a non-toxic, aluminum oxide conversion coating that is 0.000060 inches (1.5 microns) thick, silver/black in color and tightly adherent to the metal surface. When sealed with a rust preventive, the finish provides robust corrosion protection that is better than cold blackening at half the cost, without undesirable pollution hazards.
"MICROLOK AO is ideal for users of cold blackeners who want a replacement that is safe to apply and avoids the use of EPA regulated (copper and selenium) chemicals. The patented MICROLOK AO solution contains no regulated chemicals - process rinse waters are generally sewerable as non-hazardous discharge.
"Additional benefits include: anti-galling protection to aid in assembly and startup; temperature stability up to 1,400°F; safe 120-140°F operation with no boiling or splattering; no scale or sludge buildup in tanks; bath maintenance is much simpler, requiring only pH monitoring."
According to Birchwood, valves, couplings, pumps and associated oil and gas drilling components break in more easily when finished with TRU TEMP, the low temperature black oxide process. "Providing an attractive and protective black oxide coating, TRU TEMP is ideal for critical parts in storage, shipment and startup because it protects critical surfaces against corrosion," said the spokesperson.
"The satin black TRU TEMP finish is 0.5 microns thick (20 millionths) with no effect on material hardness or load bearing properties," said the spokesperson. "The finish withstands up to 100-150 hours of neutral salt spray (ASTM B 117) or several hundred hours of humidity (ASTM D 1748), verified by independent testing. This high level of corrosion protection is important for both part storage and shipment in corrosive atmospheres, including ocean shipment.
"The TRU TEMP process can be installed in any plant setting without endangering personnel or surrounding equipment. TRU TEMP solutions contain no EPA regulated chemicals, so there is usually no need for waste treatment equipment. In most installations, TRU TEMP rinse waters are sewerable as non-hazardous discharge. This benefit simplifies installation and minimizes the modest capital investment for setting up a TRU TEMP process line."
For more information contact:
Birchwood Technologies
7900 Fuller Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
952-937-7931
info@birchwoodtechnologies.com
www.birchwoodtechnologies.com