These high-integrity tube couplings, designed and marketed by Lucas Fluid Power, are made in Hiduron® 191 (NES 835, DEF STAN 02-835) for its excellent corrosion resistance in seawater combined with high strength.
A further feature of Hiduron® 191 is low magnetic permeability. This is used in couplings for mine counter-measure vessels, which are built from low-permeability materials to minimise the risk from magnetic mines.
Couplings in Hiduron® 191 have also been installed on some of the Thames tributary barriers now in service, protecting the south-east of England against tidal flooding. Here a minimum working life in the order of 20 years is expected.
The combination of strength and toughness, compared with aluminium bronzes, together with high corrosion resistance, leads to the use of the alloy in many other marine engineering applications. These include pump shafting, control elements on submarines, and fastenings for cupronickel and bronze pipework systems on offshore platforms.
