Stephen Hepworth Email and Phone Number

Conducting research for the steel industry, involved in business orientated projects to “add value” to Tata Steel products, principally for the Energy & Power (Tubes) and the Long Products (Sections & Plates) businesses, but also the Strip Business.My research projects have included:- Investigation of the effect of surface topography on the performance of a high build glass flake reinforced epoxy.Development of alternatives to stainless steel cladding on the internal surfaces of pipes carrying highly corrosive media.Investigation of novel polymer systems for insulation coatings on steel oil and gas pipes.Development and trialling of new higher performance internal flow coats.Investigation and development of chrome free passivations for hot dip galvanized steel strip.Development and introduction of fast curing high build coatings for sub-sea carrier pipes.Development of chromate free pre-treatments for use with fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) powder coatings (several projects).Investigation and introduction of infra-red heating for the high build coatings.Development of UV cured primers for gas-list tube manufactured by Tata Steel Tubes.Development and introduction of a four layer polypropylene foam based insulation and protection coating for oil and gas pipes.Investigation and development of chromate free pre-treatments for use on hot dip galvanized lighting columns.Investigation of corrosion rates on the internal surfaces of RHS edge beams in buildings used to carry air for the ventilation systems.Investigation of glass flake reinforced polyester/vinyl ester and other fast cure coatings.Other responsibilities included:-Investigating customer complaints.Providing advice on corrosion and protection issues affecting Tata Steel products.Providing inspection services to the Tata Steel business units for the maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of their plant infrastructure.

Conducting research for the steel industry, involved in business orientated projects to “add value” to British Steel Tubes products. Projects included the investigation of chromate free polyethylene sheathing for gas pipes; the examination of alternative copolymer adhesives for polyolefin sheathing systems; the resistance of these materials to aviation fuel and de-icing fluids; the investigation of FBE coatings for gas pipe and the Channel Tunnel.Providing technical support for British Steel Tubes in the form of qualification testing of polyethylene sheathing systems, regular phosphate coating weight determinations and the investigation of customer complaints.

Assistant Purchaser