USING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS TO PROTECT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY FROM CORROSION

The choice of the type of protective agent against corrosion of agricultural machinery parts is determined primarily by the safety of the protected surfaces during non-working periods and environmental safety when protective agents come into contact with them as a result of their operation: soil cultivation, sowing, planting, harvesting of agricultural crops, etc. Many anti-corrosion protection agents are known: restoration of initial paint and varnish coatings, use of temporary protective compounds (bitumen, oils, rust converters and corrosion inhibitors, in rare cases, PVC lubricants, inhibited compounds NG-204, NG-203, “Kormin”, water-wax compounds, etc. are used). The listed means have a number of disadvantages: high cost, high labor intensity of application and depreservation of protective, as well as negative environmental consequences. In connection with the above, the purpose of the work is to determine the anti-corrosion properties of rendered animal fats as relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials. To achieve this goal, studies were carried out using samples of steel St.3, coated with rendered beef, horse and pork fats. The studied samples were pre-weighed, coated with the appropriate fats and placed under a canopy from November 2019 to September 2020. It should be noted that the preservation of the fat film depends on its thickness and weather and climatic conditions. During the observations, the preservation and condition of the coatings were monitored monthly, the mass of the samples was determined, and the moments of corrosion occurrence were recorded during daily inspection. The measurements showed the development of corrosion processes at negative temperatures (-4…-5°C) and relative air humidity within 75…85%. It should be noted that external manifestations of corrosion have been observed on unprotected samples since March. Samples with beef fat films show a threefold decrease in the corrosion rate compared to unprotected ones. No corrosion was observed on samples with pork and horse fat coatings.