Case Studies in Forensic Metallurgy

Soggy Furs

Image Gallery

Failed pipe assembly. Failed bushing, showing corrosion. Failed bushing, from the other side. Sliced in half, the corroded bushing has been polished and etched. A closeup of the etched metal shows magnetite at the valve.

Readings

Callister, Section 17.4: Prediction of Corrosion Rates. pp. 631-638

Russell, Ken. “Report on the Furs Warehouse Plumbing Failure.” (PDF)

Assignments

There is a lot to be learned from the photographic evidence supplied. What in particular did you take away? You might go so far as to consider the potential materials involved and what caused them to look as they do in the picture.

Based on the reading about corrosion, how do your views of the pictures change?

Please prepare a short presentation on the Soggy Furs case and evidence.

Please prepare a short presentation on corrosion.

Further Reading

“Calamities” column: The Case of the Soggy Furs