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The study investigated the effect of sebacate as a corrosion inhibitor for acrylic-coated steel. Specifically, it examined its impact on mitigating a frequent case of paint delamination, known as filiform corrosion (FFC), through a chosen weathering test designed to stress the degradation of the produced samples. Sebacate was demonstrated to be an efficient organic molecule for enhancing the corrosion resistance of steel. This efficacy was evaluated through electrochemical characterization based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and potentiodynamic polarization curves, including the application of an FFC susceptibility prediction methodology based on measurements obtained in FFC-simulated electrolytes. An inhibition efficiency of 98% was measured in near-neutral saline solutions compared to conditions lacking inhibitor presence. During FFC simulation, the primary effect observed was associated with a reduction in cathodic activity evolution. Furthermore, a significant reduction in corrosion creep evolution of 35% was found. These experimental findings aligned closely with the outcomes projected by the simulated investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aimed at investigating the impact of various good quality soils of on vineyard productivity. Manure matured with a fast and controlled process and compost obtained from digestate of an organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) were applied one time on a grapevine row, in two CAVIT vineyards. A physico-chemical characterization of the soils was carried out and biological quality indices QBS-ar (Arthropodological Biocenosis) were calculated. The vegeto-productive monitoring was performed by foliar nutrients analysis and measuring NDVI and SPAD indices. The organic source had a significant fertilizing effect, especially manure, which determined a nutrient increase in soil (P, K and Mg), a rise in photosynthetically active biomass, available nitrogen and potassium in plants. The effects on the biological community of soils and musts quality were negligible. The use of soil improvers could be an efficient strategy for the nutrition of not vigorous vineyards, which do not require high nitrogen inputs.

Since testing organic coatings under natural conditions is a time‐consuming process, accelerated methods are needed to produce results in less time. A simulated environment cannot fully reproduce actual operating conditions, so it is important to investigate the correlation between accelerated and natural aging test results. In this article, the natural aging of painted steel, aluminum, and hot‐dip galvanized steel is studied for 1 year under continental climate conditions. The environmental parameters responsible for the change of the protective system in a continental urban environment were monitored: time of wetness, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature. The extent of deterioration is compared with similar samples weathered by accelerated testing using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and gloss measurements. Neutral salt spray chamber, prohesion test, immersion in a quiescent salt solution, and ultraviolet B‐rays (UVB) exposure test are considered. The results of the accelerated cabinet tests are discussed, and the effect is evaluated for the various coated metals. This study highlights the major problems encountered in building a model to predict durability in such a critical area as the durability of organic coatings for metal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the limitations of the low-frequency EIS impedance modulus as a tool to describe the protective properties of organic coatings subjected to accelerated aging tests. Acrylic clear-coated steel and hot-dip galvanized steel were exposed to accelerated test methods such as the neutral salt spray chamber and the Prohesion test for up to 2000 and 3000 h, respectively. During exposure, the protective properties of the coatings were monitored by EIS and visual inspection. We observed a significant discrepancy between the measured impedance modulus in the low frequency range (|Z0.01Hz|), and the actual deterioration of the metal–paint interface. The degradation of the two painted substrates is independent of the accelerated test considered. The |Z0.01Hz| values do not represent the actual degradation state of the metal–polymer interface. The manuscript discusses the reasons for the lack of agreement between EIS and visual inspection. The limitations of using the low-frequency EIS impedance modulus to describe the protective properties of organic coatings are highlighted, and several cautions for interpreting the raw EIS data are suggested. The reliability of possible thresholds of |Z0.01Hz| (e.g., failure below 106 ohm∙cm2) to define the protective performance of the coating turned out to be misleading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backyard composting as a supplement to centralized plant composting is increasingly being accepted in many parts of northern Italy. Many people in small rural areas, residential districts and municipalities surrounding large cities such as Bergamo, Milan and Padua are recycling organic materials on their own initiative. They have been helped and encouraged by town governments which are almost exclusively promoting backyard composting programs through funding for the equipment or by discounting the municipal refuse tax on interested families by 10%-30%.