Polymeric coatings extend component life

Surface coating technology company Thermaspray’s range of wear- and corrosion-resistant polymeric coatings protect components in extremely harsh environments, delivering cost and time saving benefits for customers through extended component life and enhanced production.

“These highly flexible polymer coating systems are extremely resistant to abrasive wear and corrosion, as well as thermal degradation,” explains Thermaspray’s metal- lurgical engineer Shaik Hoosain.

He notes that the highly flexible polymer coating systems ensure that Thermaspray customers have the best materials to protect their plant and equipment over the long term, reducing downtime and lowering maintenance costs.

This range of coatings from Thermaspray is especially effective in corrosive environments where application can extend component life significantly, compared with the uncoated part. The coatings are resistant to a wide variety of chemicals, ranging from various acids to bases, salts and organic materials. Hoosain adds that, alongside corrosion resistance, these coatings can also provide abrasion and erosion resistance.

“A recent trial was done for a customer experiencing a significant amount of wear, erosion and corrosion in its pump components,” states Hoosain, explaining that the pump operates in a corrosive environment containing various salts and abrasive particles, a pH ranging from four to eight and a temperature of 60˚ C. The pump is made from 316 stainless steel and currently only lasts for two weeks.

He adds that the end plate and volute casing, after about two weeks of use, both showed signs of substantial corrosion, wear and erosion, prompting the customer to request Thermaspray to look into the possible refurbishment of the components and the possibility of extending the two-week life significantly.

After applying Thermaspray’s new range of coatings, the components were refurbished, machined and ground to the correct sizes for assembly. The coating chosen and applied is corrosion, abrasion and erosion resistant. “We are pleased to report that the pump currently continues to run as it has for the last seven months without any issues,” concludes Hoosain.

Thermaspray is in a joint venture (JV) with Cape Town-based thermal spray coatings company Surcotec. The JV offers an extensive portfolio of engineering and thermal spray coating solutions that extend component life cycles to assist original-equipment manufacturers and end-user clients across Southern Africa in reducing costs and increasing production. The companies’ wear- and corrosion-resistant thermal spray coatings, plasma transferred arc cladding and polymer coatings are enhanced by a host of specialised allied services.

Thermaspray, headquartered in Olifants- fontein, Johannesburg, has close to 20 years’ experience in wear- and corrosion-resistant thermal spray coatings. In addition to providing a comprehensive range of support coating finishing technologies in the bespoke finishing shop, Thermaspray also refurbishes industrial components damaged by wear and corrosion. The company’s in-house, metallurgical laboratory is the only dedicated facility of its kind in Africa’s thermal spray industry and is equipped to undertake world-class developments and quality control. Thermaspray is a DQS ISO 9001 Quality Management-certified and State-owned utility Eskom level 1-certified company.