A group of Russian researchers from Kazan State Agrarian University and Chuvash State Agrarian University has discovered that ordinary animal fats can slow down the corrosion of metal parts of agricultural machinery 3–5 times more effectively than without protection. Moreover, this method is safe for the soil and does not require additional cleaning before operating the machines.
The experiment used steel plates coated with beef, pork, and horse fat. The samples were placed under an open canopy in Chuvashia and observed for a year. Unprotected plates began to rust in early spring, while those coated with fat remained stable.
Pork and horse fat showed the best results — the samples under them did not corrode during the entire test period.
Horse fat showed the best results. It has the lowest melting point, so it remains liquid longer and penetrates the pores of the metal better. As a result, a thin protective film forms on the surface, which does not allow moisture and oxygen to pass through.
Fats form an oxide layer on the metal surface, blocking access to moisture and oxygen. In addition, they do not require rinsing, as they dry out over time and crumble naturally, without harming the soil.
Using this protection method can provide the following benefits for farmers:
- Savings: animal fats are cheaper than industrial anti-corrosion compounds.
- Environmental friendliness: does not require rinsing and is safe for the environment.
- Ease of application: simply immerse the part in heated fat (55–60°C) and let it solidify.
Agricultural machinery is particularly vulnerable to rust during the off-season — from October to April. Traditional protection methods (bitumen, oils, chemical compounds) are expensive and require rinsing, which is often ignored due to additional costs. Scientists decided to test whether natural animal fats could become an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.
The study confirmed that equipment protection should begin immediately after the end of field work, as corrosion is activated even at -4°C and high humidity.
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