Experts discuss anti-corrosion protection in the Extreme North

A roundtable titled "Challenges in laser cleaning surface preparation for metal products and applying anti-corrosion coatings in the Extreme North" was held in St. Petersburg. The event was organized at the request of NK Rosneft-NTC LLC (Rosneft’s Research and Technology Center) by the Melnikov Central Research Institute of Steel Structures and Evraz Steel Building.

A presentation on the topic was delivered by Kirill Aristov, Technical Director/Marketing Director of Litum (a member of the Steel Construction Development Association, ARSS).

The laser surface preparation method is only beginning to be implemented at Russian enterprises, yet it has already gained significant support.

Tests of paint coatings combined with laser surface preparation were conducted, confirming the viability of this innovation and the availability of suitable coating materials. For example, the “Litamastic” series by Litum demonstrated strong performance.

However, a key issue remains: the laser method has not yet been included in regulatory documentation, limiting its industrial application. During the roundtable, challenges related to laser surface preparation, including its use in low-temperature conditions, were discussed.

A decision was made to launch R&D initiatives to thoroughly study the aforementioned aspects of laser cleaning, followed by the development of a foundational GOST R standard.