Is your transformer near the ocean or a chemical environment? If so, you may need additional corrosion protection.
Most transformer enclosures are made of mild steel with a powder-coated paint finish. These enclosures hold up well in normal service conditions. But they can rust rapidly in corrosive environments.
At Maddox, we offer two corrosion resistant options for your transformer:
- Stainless Steel
- Transarmour
In this article, we’ll compare these options. Let’s start with stainless steel.
Stainless Steel
Not all stainless steel is created equal. There are several grades available. The two most common grades for transformers are 304 and 316. Both consist of low-carbon steel, augmented with chromium. Ideally, this protects the unit for roughly 50 years. Let's take a look at each.
304 Stainless Steel
304 is the most common stainless steel grade used for transformer enclosures. It meets the needs of most corrosive environments and costs less than 316. You’ll find 304 stainless steel in sinks, cutlery, hardware, and architectural trim.
316 Stainless Steel
316 stainless steel adds molybdenum alloy for extra saline and chloride resistance. Its performance is superior to 304 in acidic environments, like marine applications. It's used in chemical processing and storage equipment, as well as offshore applications. 316 is also more resistant to pitting and corrosion at high temperatures.
Both these stainless steel options provide great corrosion protection. But they also cost much more than a normal mild steel unit. That's why many customers are turning to TransArmour as an alternative.
TransArmour
TransArmour is a more recent corrosion-resistant innovation. It’s a sprayable polymer coating that can be applied to any transformer. It comes in strengths 3X, 5X, and 10X.
Like stainless steel, TransArmour 10X provides corrosion resistance for 40–60 years. Providing comparable protection at a fraction of stainless steel costs.
Cost and Availability
When looking at corrosion resistant options, the two big considerations are cost and availability.
Cost
A transformer with a 304 stainless steel enclosure costs roughly 20% more (depending on size) than mild steel. 316 stainless steel is even more expensive. TransArmour has an advantage here. It costs significantly less to apply TransArmour than to build with 304 or 316 stainless steel.
Availability
While Maddox offers the fastest turn around on stainless steel options; you can’t beat Transarmour for speed and availability. We have Transarmour on the shelf and ready to go. The only lead time you are looking at, is the time it takes to apply it.
Which one should you use for corrosion protection?
Your choice between these two options depends on your project.
If you need a corrosion-resistant transformer, it is faster and will cost less for Maddox to coat one with TransArmour than to build it new with stainless steel.
If you are procuring transformers for a project months in the future, and have strict specs. Stainless steel may be your best option.
What about extremely corrosive environments?
For some projects, we have built a stainless steel transformer and then coated it with TransArmour. This provides maximum corrosion resistance.
Conclusion
Stainless steel is the time-tested standard for corrosion resistance. But many of our customers are now using TransArmour. If you are looking to lower the cost and lead time on your project, TransArmour is a viable alternative.
Whether you need stainless steel or TransArmour, Maddox has the transformers you need for your next project.
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