We are often asked what is and industrial coating and how is the industrial painting process good for corrosion management and the longevity of your industrial machinery and equipment. The short answer is simple, industrial coatings are akin to a fresh coat of paint on your equipment, flooring, building, pipes, silos, etc, and everyone likes the look of a fresh coat of paint. But aesthetics are only part of the equation; The better the industrial coating, the more protection your commercial building or equipment will have against corrosion, grease, run-off, etc.
Per Wikipedia, Industrial Coating is defined as
“An industrial coating is a paint or coating defined by its protective, rather than its aesthetic properties, although it can provide both.
The most common use of industrial coatings is for corrosion control of steel structures such as offshore platforms, bridges and underground pipelines. Other functions include intumescent coatings for fire resistance. The most common polymers used in industrial coatings are polyurethane, epoxy and moisture-cure urethane. Another highly common polymer used in industrial coating is a fluoropolymer. There are many types of industrial coatings including inorganic zinc, phosphate, and Xylan and PVD coatings.
NACE International and The Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) are professional organizations involved in the industrial coatings industry.
Industrial coatings are often composites of various substances. For example Xylan dry-film lubricants are composites of fluoropolymers (typically PTFE, PFA, and FEP) and reinforcingthermoset polyimide and polyamide binder resins initially suspended in a variety of solvents (such as ethyl acetate, xylene, dimethlformamide, and N-methyl 2-yrrolidone).
A typical coating system may include a primer, an intermediate coat, and a top coat. The polymer film acts as a physical barrier between the steel substrate and the corrosive environment such as atmosphere, water and soil. Industrial coatings are also available as garage floor coatings such as epoxy, polyurea, and polyaspartic. Different types of coatings are used for protection in different environments. A detailed Engineering Specification would usually indicate this process.
The 4 main stages of a three coat system:
Abrasive Blasting: This roughens and cleans the surface and prepares the surfaces for Primer.
Primer: This wets the substrate, creating a base for the Intermediate coat. These primers can consist of Inorganic Zinc Silicate, Epoxy Zinc or even general Epoxy Polyamide.
Intermediate: Provides system thickness build, and prevents permeability. Intermediates can consist of general Epoxy Polyamide, amongst others.
Top coat: Provides Chemical Resistance and adds aesthetic value to the surface.”
If you are serious about protecting your commercial property, industrial equipment, or warehouse flooring, give Bowles Industrial Coatings division a call today at 502-933-2768.
We specialize in Lexington Industrial Coatings, Louisville Industrial Coatings, and Nashville Industrial Coatings as well as all areas surrounding. We promise to be on-site on time and keep your industrial operation performing at its peak.
