Category: Surface Coating

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Case Study: Permanent Anti Slip Solution to Protect Workers When Standing on Helicopter Skids

The Puerto Rico Power Authority uses Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating to help create ant slip surfaces on helicopter skids

Helicopter health and safety – Keeping workers in Puerto Rico safe by providing anti slip surfaces on helicopter skids

With workers regularly carrying out jobs whilst standing on the legs of helicopters belonging to the Puerto Rico Power Authority, the company decided to seek a permanent solution for creating an anti slip surface for helicopter skids to prevent accidents happening.

Case Study Data

Site
Puerto Rico Power Authority
Location
Puerto Rico
Repair Type
Creation of anti slip surfaces on helicopter skids

Products Used

Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating
Brush applied to bond silicon carbide grit to helicopter legs, creating an anti slip surface

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Case Study Details

The Puerto Rico Power Authority operates a fleet of helicopters. The helicopters help workers reach remote areas of Puerto Rico which are difficult to access by road and smaller islands off the mainland.

They are also used to help repair and maintain equipment operated by the company. Some of these jobs required workers to stand on the metal legs of the helicopter. To protect their workers from the very real risk of slipping from the helicopter legs and having a serious accident, the Power Authority applied anti slip tape to the skids.

A helicopter belonging to the Puerto Rico Power Authority

With their helicopters often operating in harsh environments and the anti slip tape not being the most robust of materials, in some instances the Power Authority were having to spend time and money on re-taping skids once a month.

They also had concerns about the safety of the tape. The frequency with which it became worn, damaged and lost adhesion therefore left the Power Authority seeking a long term, trustworthy alternative.

Sylmasta suggested coating each of the helicopter skids with Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating and then applying silicon carbide grit to the wet surface, creating a permanent anti slip surface to better protect workers.

Liquid Metal is a metal-filled, brushable epoxy which is painted onto surfaces to create a new layer. Whilst sticky, it offers high strength adhesion to all materials. Its 90 minute gel time allows careful application without the threat of premature curing.

The epoxy was mixed and then applied via brush across the top of each helicopter skid. Silicon carbide grit was then deposited over the coating of Liquid Metal, completely covering the skid. Once cured, the grit was permanently bonded.

Helicopter skids are provided with a permanent anti slip surface to protect workers standing on the legs of the helicopter
Silicon carbide grit bonded to the helicopter skid with Liquid Metal created a permanent anti slip surface

Within three days, the Power Authority had successfully carried out the procedure to every helicopter in their fleet. Since the application was first carried out 15 years ago, the skids have been re-coated with Liquid Metal and silicone carbide grit once every five years.

A repair every half a decade is a far cry from the laborious task of regularly applying anti skid tape. Workers standing on helicopter legs to keep the power running in Puerto Rico are now much better protected thanks to Liquid Metal.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Corroded Tank Repair at a Puerto Rico Pharmaceutical Plant

A heavily corroded tank at a pharmaceutical plant in Puerto Rico undergoes repair using Ceramic Brushable Green Epoxy Coating

Putting a lid on corrosion – the roof of a heavily corroded tank undergoes repair using Ceramic Brushable Green

When rust finally breached the top of an industrial tank at a pharmaceutical plant in Puerto Rico, a repair method was needed to keep the corroded tank operational for several more years before a planned replacement.

Case Study Data

Site
Pharmaceutical plant
Location
Puerto Rico
Repair Type
Corrosion protection
Defect
Heavy corrosion to the top of an industrial sized tank

Products Used

E190 Brushable Epoxy
Brushable epoxy resin coated onto strips of Fibreglass Tape to make composite patch repairs to holes in the tank

Fibreglass Tape
Fibreglass Tape soaked with E190, after which it cured to form a rock hard material covering holes in the tank

Epoxy Composite Repair Kit
E190 Resin and Fibreglass Tape can be purchased in an Epoxy Composite Repair Kit for making complex patch repairs to pipes and tanks

Ceramic Brushable Green
Brushable epoxy coating repaired the top of the tank by creating a hard-wearing surface resistant to corrosion

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Case Study Details

The tank was suffering from heavy corrosion, especially at the top. The pharmaceutical company responsible for the plant had been determined to try and keep the system operational until the scheduled replacement of the tank.

Unfortunately, the corrosion became so bad that a repair had to be made. The primary consideration was cost; the company did not want to spend thousands of dollars refurbishing a tank, only for it to be condemned within a few years.

A badly corroded tank top at a pharmaceutical plant in Puerto Rico prior to undergoing repair using a Sylmasta brushable epoxy
The top of the tank was suffering from heavy corrosion

It was decided to use Ceramic Brushable Green Epoxy Coating as a cost-effective and convenient means of both repairing the damaged tank roof and protecting it from further corrosion.

Ceramic Brushable Green is reinforced with silicone carbide and painted onto surfaces, structures and machinery to create an ultra-smooth, hard wearing protective layer.

It can be applied to old or new parts made from all metals and most plastics. It seals surfaces and protects against chemical attack, cavitation, erosion and pitting, as well as corrosion.

Large holes appeared in the tank during the surface preparation process

Before the application of Ceramic Brushable Green, the roof of the tank had to be cleaned to remove paint, rust and grime. During this process, several holes appeared in the tank owing to how brittle the metalwork had become.

The holes were bridged using Fibreglass Tape coated with Sylmasta E190 Brushable Epoxy Resin, available to purchase together as part of the Sylmasta Epoxy Composite Repair Kit.

Strips of Fibreglass Tape were cut off, soaked with E190 resin and then layered over each hole to build a composite patch repair. E190 has a work time of 30 minutes, after which the resin-soaked strips cured to form a rock-hard material sealing all holes.

  • A corroded tank top undergoing repair using a brushable epoxy
  • Ceramic Brushable Green used to repair a corroded tank top by creating a new hard wearing surface
E190 Epoxy Resin and Fibreglass Tape patch repaired holes. The tank was then coated with Ceramic Brushable Green Epoxy Coating

Once the holes had been path repaired, the entire tank was painted with Ceramic Brushable Green. The 90 minute gel time meant that large quantities of epoxy coating could be mixed without the threat of premature curing.

Three coatings of Ceramic Brushable Green were applied. The re-coat time between layers was around four hours. A full functional cure was achieved 24 hours after the last coating, with the entire application taking a little under two days to complete.

Although only set to be a temporary repair, complications down the line meant that the planned replacement of the tank had to be suspended. Five years later and the tank was still in service, fully functional thanks to Ceramic Brushable Green with no signs of further corrosion.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Liquid Metal Lays Anti Slip Flooring Surfaces at PepsiCo Plant in Chile

An anti slip flooring surface created using Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating and silicone carbide grit at an industrial plant in Chile

Getting a grip in Chile – Liquid Metal combined with silicon carbide grit lay new anti slip flooring at PepsiCo Plant

An industrial plant operated by PepsiCo in Chile required a cost effective method for laying new and replacement anti slip flooring across the site – a problem solved by combining Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating and silicon carbide grit.

Case Study Data

Site
PepsiCo industrial plant
Location
Chile
Repair Type
Creation of anti slip surfaces

Products Used

Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating
Brush applied to bond silicon carbide grit to floors, creating an anti slip surface

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

PepsiCo needed to lay anti slip flooring at various points in their industrial plant in Chile, both to replace existing surfaces which had lost their effectiveness and create new ones across the site.

12 different sections needed laying. These included the gritting of stainless steel ladders and staircases; the tiled floor of a warehouse; concrete corridors; a metal ramp; and the surface of an open lift used to transport goods between floors.

  • Exisiting anti slip flooring at the PepsiCo industrial plant had become worn and in effective prior to being repaired using Liquid Metal and silicone carbide grit
Existing anti slip surfaces had become worn and needed replacing

Because of the scale of the application, the maintenance team carrying out the job wanted to find as cost effective and convenient method for laying anti slip surfaces as possible.

One of the ways they intended on doing this was by finding an epoxy coating capable of bonding to the variety of surfaces upon which the anti slip flooring was required.

  • A stainless steel floor prior to having a new anti slip flooring surface applied using an epoxy coating
Stainless steel floor with worn anti slip surface

Sylmasta therefore recommended the use of Liquid Metal Epoxy Coating combined with silicon carbide grit. Liquid Metal is a metal-filled, brushable epoxy which is painted onto surfaces.

Whilst sticky, it offers high strength adhesion. It cures on all materials, forming an ultra-smooth metallic layer. A gel time of 90 minutes allows for the coating to be mixed and carefully applied without the threat of premature curing, an important consideration for larger, more complex tasks.

Masking tape was used to mark out where the anti slip strips were required. The surface was then painted with Liquid Metal, silicon carbide was sprinkled over the epoxy coating, and the masking tape removed.

Liquid Metal and silicone carbide grit are used to create anti slip flooring at the PepsiCo industrial plant in Chile
Completed refurbishment of the anti slip surface on the stainless steel floor using Liquid Metal and silicone carbide grit

Once the Liquid Metal had cured, the grit was permanently bonded to the floor, creating a new anti slip surface. This method was used successfully across all 12 areas requiring attention on the site, no matter whether the surfaces were metal, concrete or tile.

The entire application was completed in 24 hours from when the final area was coated with Liquid Metal. The ease and speed of the installation has since led the maintenance company to use Liquid Metal for surface gritting at other plants, as well as for creating anti slip surfaces for delivery vans.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Creating an Abrasion Resistant Surface for Pug Mill Extruder Barrels

Ceramic Brushabkle Blue Epoxy Paste created an abrasion resistant surface for worn aluminium barrels in a pug mill putty extruder

Putty in their hands – Ceramic Brushable provides an abrasion resistant surface coating to improve pug mill putty extruder efficiency

Aluminium barrels in several pug mill putty extruders suffering from both abrasive wear and a rough initial finish are given an ultra-smooth, abrasion resistant surface coating to improve their efficiency

Case Study Data

Repair Type
Abrasion Protection
Defect
Worn aluminium barrels in pug mill putty extruders

Products Used

Ceramic Brushable Blue Epoxy Coating
Ceramic-filled epoxy coating painted onto surfaces and parts to create a smooth, abrasion resistant layer

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

Silica-filled putty was extruded from the pug mills via aluminium barrels. Over time, the silica in the putty had caused abrasive wear to the surface of the barrels as it passed through.

This wear combined with the initial rough cast finish of the aluminium had caused the flow rate of putty from the pug mills to slow dramatically, impacting on efficiency.

  • A badly worn putty extruder had become inefficient because of abrasion
Barrels in the putty extruders were suffering from heavy wear

To help the extruders run more efficiently, a means of improving the flow rate through the barrels by filling in existing damage and creating an ultra-smooth finish was sought.

After researching cost and ease of repair, machining the barrels was ruled out as it would have been difficult, expensive and too time consuming.

Instead, it was decided to paint the aluminium barrels in every putty extruder with a low friction coating for increased extrusion rate. The coating used in the repair also needed to be abrasion resistant to protect the aluminium from further wear.

  • Ceramic Brushable Blue is an easy to use epoxy coating used to create abrasion resistant surface to machines, parts and surfaces of all materials
Ceramic Brushable Blue was easy to mix and apply to the extruder barrels

Ceramic Brushable Blue was the obvious solution. It is ceramic-filled and reinforced with silicone carbide for ultimate hardness. It is used on both new and old machines and parts in highly abrasive environments.

Coating new surfaces with Ceramic Brushable Blue provides a toughened, reinforced layer of protection from wear, extending the lifespan of parts.

When used on older machine parts and surfaces such as the putty extruder barrels, Ceramic Brushable Blue repairs damaged areas as well as offering protection against abrasion.

  • Ceramic Brushable Epoxy Coating applied to provide an abrasion resistant surface to a putty extruyder to improve efficiency
The epoxy coating gave a low friction surface to the barrels

Ceramic Brushable Blue was easy to apply. The parts were mixed and then the coating painted on using a conventional paintbrush. The 90 minute work time allowed larger quantities of epoxy to be mixed and applied in one go without the threat of premature curing.

It took one day to coat every pug mill putty extruder barrel with the required amount of Ceramic Brushable Blue. A full cure was achieved 24 hours after the final coat, meaning that there was minimal disruption to production.

  • Sylmasta Ceramic Brushable Epoxy Coating used to create an abrasion resistant surface for a pug mill putty extruder aluminium barrel
Ceramic Brushable Blue provided a low friction, ultra-smooth finish

The non-stick, smooth finish of Ceramic Brushable also enabled quicker and easy cleaning of the barrels. Less time needed for the maintenance of the extruders resulted in even greater efficiency for the pug mills.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Creating a Flexible Expansion Joint Filler for a Residential Property in the UK

Liquid Rubber used as an expansion joint filler to fill 25mm gaps between glass panels on a roof terrace at a residential property in Essex

Sealing the Dream – Sylmasta Liquid Rubber used as a flexible expansion joint filler eliminates problematic balcony drips at a dream home

An unexpected issue hit a dream home being built in Essex when water began to drip through glass panel expansion joint gaps in a roof terrace onto a balcony below – leading the homeowner to come up with a creative flexible filler solution to seal the joints

Case Study Data

Site
Residential Property
Location
Essex, United Kingdom
Repair Type
Expansion Joint Filler
Defect
Water dripping through expansion gaps in a roof terrace onto a balcony below

Products Used

Liquid Rubber 80
Rubber elastomer compound which was poured into the expansion joints to offer a water resistant and flexible filler

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Review

The striking property overlooking the Thames Estuary featured a roof terrace with panoramic views. Surrounding the terrace were 26 glass panels with 25mm expansion gaps either side. Below the roof terrace was another balcony where electrical installations such as LED lights and speakers had been added.

Whenever it rained or spray blew in off the Thames, water would drip through the expansion gaps and onto the balcony below, causing issues with the electric equipment.

A residential property in Essex required a flexible expansion joint filler to eliminate drips from a roof terrace onto a balcony below
The residential property. The troublesome expansion gaps were allowing water to pass from the roof terrace onto the balcony below

To prevent this happening, the homeowner needed to find an expansion joint filler material which was both waterproof to eliminate the drips and flexible enough to allow the glass panels to expand.

After speaking with Sylmasta, the homeowner decided to fill the expansion gaps with a packing material which was then encapsulated with Sylmasta Liquid Rubber 80.

A 25mm expansion joint between panes of glass on a roof terrace
25mm expansion joints between the glass panels

Liquid Rubber is a tough but flexible repair compound which can also be used to refurbish conveyor belts, make moulds, and add noise-reducing and abrasion-resistant linings to equipment.

The packing material was first pushed into the expansion gaps. Once the material was in place, the homeowner mixed the two parts of Liquid Rubber together, pouring it into the joints to seal everything.

Liquid Rubber used as a filler for a 25mm expansion joint between glass panels on a roof terrace at a residential property in Essex
Each expansion gap was filled with a packing material which was then encapsulated with Liquid Rubber

Within 16 hours, the Liquid Rubber cured to provide a water resistant filler which could also cater for glass expansion.

Liquid Rubber sets to black, which meant that it blended in seamlessly with the resin which had been used on the rest of the roof terrace’s balustrade. Even on close inspection, you could not tell that two different materials had been used.

The Liquid Rubber blended in seamlessly with the existing resin used on the roof terrace
Sylmasta Liquid Rubber used as an expansion gap filler between glass panels on a roof terrace in Essex
The completed repair of the expansion joint gaps

The use of Liquid Rubber as an expansion joint filler was a complete success and eliminated all drips from the roof terrace to the balcony below.

The homeowner contacted Sylmasta after the repair had been completed, saying he was delighted that a solution had been found to complete the building work on his dream home.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com