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Author Archives: Barrie Mellor
FAQ; High Performance Greases and Lubricants
When working with aggressive chemicals, the use of greases is often highly restricted (or prohibited) and we are often asked what we use. In working with liquid oxidisers (nitrogen tetroxide, nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride), we have generally found that … Continue reading
In terms of Corrosion, what’s the difference between a ‘Passivator’ and an ‘Inhibitor’?
Metals are said to be ‘passive’ when they show good corrosion resistance against a specific medium. That is to say that metal A might be passive in liquid 1 but not in liquid 2, whereas metal B might be passive … Continue reading
Posted in Chemistry and Materials FAQs
Tagged corrosion, inhibitor, passivator
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Godspeed John Young
It was deeply saddening to learn of the recent passing of John Young. I never knew John Young, nor any of the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo astronauts, but as a kid in school, it was the flights of these most inspiring men that encouraged … Continue reading
FAQ: optimising the use of Lead Acid Batteries
My first response to any question about car batteries (12V lead acid) is that the answer to just about anything you want to know them can be found on one single website; Bill Darden’s most excellent “Car and Deep Cycle … Continue reading
Fracking? Not in Our back yard!
I am a person who has been involved with matters of a chemical nature for over 40 years now. I have a BSc and PhD in chemistry. I was elected as a Chartered Chemist and a Chartered Engineer and I … Continue reading
Posted in Chemistry and Materials FAQs
Tagged fracking, United Kingdom
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Widespread Vitamin D Deficiency in the UK?
Vitamin D is essential in a number of biochemical roles in the human body, perhaps the best known is that of being involved in the process in which calcium in taken up for growth and maintenance of bone structure. Vit.D … Continue reading
Posted in Space
Tagged deficiency, UK, Vitamin D
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How can you tell if chemical analyses are dependable
The question sometimes arises about how a client can be totally confident about the services supplied by a chemical analyst. This is very fair question and one that we ourselves need to consider if we outsource particular tests for which … Continue reading
Posted in Chemistry and Materials FAQs
Tagged chemical analysis
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Cleaning of used Electronic Components and other Multi-Metal parts
An unusual question arose recently about how to clean old and used electronic components. The particular component in question was an old socket (base) for a radio valve (tube), which had been put in to an ultrasonic cleaner in water … Continue reading
Posted in Corrosion
Tagged cleaning, ultrasonic
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What are the risks involved with using cleaning agents in water-filled cooling and heating systems?
Water-filled cooling systems are always subject to some degree of corrosion, and left un-checked, holes can appear in the system allowing the coolant to leak out. Consequently, it is always advisable to use a carefully selected corrosion inhibitor in the … Continue reading
Posted in Corrosion
Tagged cleaning agents, cooling, corrosion, heating, inhibitors
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How dangerous are the “Green Propellants”?
Some time ago we attempted to address the question “How Dangerous are the Hydrazine Fuels” and so it is interesting to consider the same question for the “Green Propellants”. I don’t know if there is any generally accepted definition of … Continue reading