Protect and serve

Technological advances in polyurea coating formulations and equipment in recent years have resulted in a new breed of superior coatings, says Kishore Kumar, Group Business Development Manager at Nukote International.

There are a number of applications for which Nukote polyurea is ideal. Its fast reaction time (5-15 seconds) is a great advantage for facility maintenance, repair or to regain usage of the facility as quickly as possible – critical to projects such as airports (including runways), seaports, roads, bridges, sewer systems, car parks, flooring, industrial kitchens, etc. where the coated areas can be open for light trade use within an hour and put to full use within a few hours. Compare this to a waiting period of days for traditional coatings.

Modern advances in chemistry have made it possible for polyurea formulations to feel soft and elastic as rubber and hard as a metal. The new polyureas will stretch with much less force and, more importantly, will vigorously resist punctures and tears. These attributes make polyureas ideal for any application where there will be some shifting to the substrate. The excellent elongation and tensile strength of Nukote polyureas allow it to bridge cracks and gaps in the substrate, preventing failures.

Nukote polyurea has countless applications in the power production and distribution industry, regardless of the type of power generation facility (coal-fired, hydro, nuclear or gas). For years, hydroelectric plants have implemented polyurea as a protective coating for protecting concrete pen stocks, chutes, pipes, manifolds, floors, walls, steel turbines and other substrates. Natural gas power plants also have countless uses for pure polyurea, while the coal-fired power generation plant holds numerous applications – polyurea is ideal for the more corrosive areas and systems, including the material handling system, cargo cars, the water, wastewater, seawater and cooling systems. A geotextile Polyurea composite has found its way as a preferred system for lining ash ponds.

Nukote polyurea is also an excellent coating for secondary containment in the nuclear industry. It works well as a protective coating and when applied over a Nukote geotextile fabric, provides an excellent secondary containment barrier, particularly for storage of radioactive dust and other byproducts.

In the wastewater industry, manhole and sewer linings is a rapidly growing market due to polyurea’s ability to solve many current issues with groundwater infiltration and installation speed. With proper surface preparation and substrate conditions and primers, it can be applied and return the cavity to service faster than most competitive systems with the minimum disruption. It is gaining ground with municipalities worldwide.

Treatment plants and other systems related to processing wastewater also provide huge potential. Likewise, landfills need a protective industrial coating that is easy and affordable to install and performs extremely well, providing superior chemical resistance. Nukote recommends using polyurea on geotextile fabric directly over well-compacted soil. This system provides a better system than using concrete and it is dramatically more cost-effective.

Polyurea’s versatile characteristics make it an ideal protective coating in bridge and tunnel applications. From submersed piles (concrete or steel) in fresh, sea, brackish or swampy water, to superstructure and deck, Nukote polyurea and polyaspartic have a number of applications in bridges as a protective, abrasion-resistant waterproofing barrier. A specially formulated polyurea is used as a waterproofing underlay suitable for resisting direct hot asphalt pour and solvents within hours of installation. Polyaspartic polyurea is an excellent anti-carbonation, waterproof, chemical resistant protective and architectural coating with unmatched features compared to products being used at present

Nukote offers systems designed for tunnels with Polyurea as a standalone coating or as a Geotextile Polyurea composite in conjunction with other secondary or tertiary waterproofing systems, based on groundwater conditions, shaft placement, warranty period and the specified design life. The system ensures a long design life as well as a failsafe system to protect the structure – even in the event of failures caused by geological movement, impacts of unusual weight and intensity or other unpredictable events or occurrences.

Ports, wharf and harbour developments have found favor with Nukote polyurea due to its ability to withstand long-term saltwater exposure, making it an ideal coating for pilings, docks and other applications. Its ability to withstand high abrasion caused by chains and ships and fast installation and repairs are added benefits.

Nukote produces coatings and insulated composites specifically for applications common to chilled water storage, distribution utilising proprietary foam insulation and coating that cross link to form a seamless system providing effective waterproof, insulation and corrosion control.

Advantages of Nukote polyurea

•  Fast reaction time and reduced downtime
•  Moisture and temperature insensitivity
•  Excellent adhesion
•  Superior elongation
• Superior tensile strength
• 100 percent solids and no volatile content
• High abrasion resistance
•  Seamless applications
• Heat and fire resistance
• Long-term stability
•  Environmental protection