Scale:  a silent enemy

Scale is a silent enemy that accumulates in pipes and machines causing economic and environmental damage to homes, industries and cities.

The intensity of the scaling process depends on several factors such as, for example, water hardness and temperature.

The high hardness, given the high concentration of calcium and magnesium salts dissolved in water, causes a series of drawbacks in urban supply systems such as unpleasant taste of water, excessive use of soap to make foam and pipe obstructions leading to costly replacement. In industrial hot water systems such as boilers or heat exchangers, hard water reduces the operating efficiency of heat exchangers, increases pressure drops, accelerates corrosion and leads to excessive consumption of chemicals.

Higher temperatures increase the concentration and decrease the solubility of some salts such as calcium carbonate and silicon dioxide thus forming scaling. The boilers along with the cooling system are an essential part of most industrial processes and, due to high temperatures, are highly susceptible to scale-forming.

Another important issue for public health is that the existing scale in pipes, either in water systems  or homes, are suitable habitat to form and develop microbes and bacteria. The rough surface of scale creates a fertile ground for the growth of bacteria and other undesirable microorganisms, either in cold or warm water environment.

Problemas decorrentes das incrustações em tubulações e equipamentos

• Blocking in piping system
• Loss of load as a consequence of the reduction in tube diameter
• Loss of energy in hot water systems and high cost of heating 3mm inlay is equivalent to 21% increase in energy costs)
• Failures in equipment and machinery
• Production downtime for continuous repairs on systems and commercial and industrial equipment
• Replacement of the entire piping system
• Increased production costs due to equipment maintenance
• Productivity loss
• Rust buildup in the pipes may cause corrosion
• Development of bacteria in drinking water pipes
• Dull surfaces in kitchens and sanitary facilities