For industrial applications, it is often important to weigh various items, even in very difficult environments. Difficult environments for electronic scales would include areas that are very wet, or that are exposed to a variety of corrosive chemicals. Depending on the material that is used to construct a scale, water can cause the scale platform, or even more importantly, the load cell, to rust. Even when oxidation just begins on a load cell, it can cause the electronic strain gage to begin to separate from the cell itself.
A typical environment that would be considered to be corrosive would be in water and wastewater treatments plants. Corrosion resistant scales should be able to resist a wide variety of chemicals found in such locations, such as chlorine, sulfur dioxide, fluoride, sodium hypochlorite, phosphate, alum, caustics and many others.
These chemicals may spill, or simply drip on the scale platform during filling or pumping operations. Fumes may also be present that would contribute to corrosive action.
Generally, stainless steel is suggested for moderately corrosive situations. But many of the common chemicals used in these environments will even attack the stainless steel. So for best protections, the corrosion resistant scale should be coated with a material that will provide additional protection. One of the best types of materials for this is a special polyamine epoxy coating. The epoxy bonds very well to stainless steel. It is flake filled for excellent thermal and mechanical shock. A garnet dust is mixed into the epoxy to provide good abrasion resistance.
The scales are designed to have a low profile. This makes it easier to move filled and empty drums up onto or off of the platform. The stainless steel load sensors are able to withstand the shock load that often occurs while filled drums are being moved. The will also hold up to side loads that may occur if a loaded scale is hit from the side by a forklift or some other device.
Corrosion Resistant Scale
For industrial applications, it is often important to weigh various items, even in very difficult environments. Difficult environments for electronic scales would include areas that are very wet, or that are exposed to a variety of corrosive chemicals. Depending on the material that is used to construct a scale, water can cause the scale platform, or even more importantly, the load cell, to rust. Even when oxidation just begins on a load cell, it can cause the electronic strain gage to begin to separate from the cell itself.
A typical environment that would be considered to be corrosive would be in water and wastewater treatments plants. Corrosion resistant scales should be able to resist a wide variety of chemicals found in such locations, such as chlorine, sulfur dioxide, fluoride, sodium hypochlorite, phosphate, alum, caustics and many others.
These chemicals may spill, or simply drip on the scale platform during filling or pumping operations. Fumes may also be present that would contribute to corrosive action.
Generally, stainless steel is suggested for moderately corrosive situations. But many of the common chemicals used in these environments will even attack the stainless steel. So for best protections, the corrosion resistant scale should be coated with a material that will provide additional protection. One of the best types of materials for this is a special polyamine epoxy coating. The epoxy bonds very well to stainless steel. It is flake filled for excellent thermal and mechanical shock. A garnet dust is mixed into the epoxy to provide good abrasion resistance.
The scales are designed to have a low profile. This makes it easier to move filled and empty drums up onto or off of the platform. The stainless steel load sensors are able to withstand the shock load that often occurs while filled drums are being moved. The will also hold up to side loads that may occur if a loaded scale is hit from the side by a forklift or some other device.