The ultimate in corrosion protection

Thermoplastic coatings

Several industrial sectors as well as municipalities continue to struggle with it. How can they sustainably protect steel structures and metal objects such as street furniture, pipes, fences and other industrial elements from the most aggressive external influences?

EUROLACKE is a leading supplier of coatings and, because of its excellent technical know-how, is known as a knowledge partner in the field of surface treatment. John Theewis, managing director of EUROLACKE, recognizes the above problem and offers advice in this regard. "It is solvable" he immediately responds. "The high-quality thermoplastic coatings from Axalta Coating Systems (Plascoat® and Abcite®) offer a solution here."

Protection from coastal climate

As an example, Theewis refers to the Kurilpa Bridge in Brisbane, Australia. At 470 meters long and 6.5 meters wide, the Kurilpa Bridge is the largest pedestrian bridge in Australia. The bridge is constantly exposed to the demanding sea climate, and deterioration of its metal components then seems inevitable. In 2011, the bridge's railings were treated with Axalta Coating Systems' Plascoat® thermoplastic powder coating, and today they show no trace of corrosion.

A Zeeland municipality's maintenance problem is another good example. "This municipality had been struggling with the maintenance of its street furniture for years," Theewis says. "It was showing rust and moss deposits or simply wasn't beautiful anymore. How could it recondition the benches, public lighting and trash receptacles and better protect them from the coastal climate?" This is where Axalta Coating Systems' Abcite®X60 thermoplastic coating provided the solution. The street furniture was restored to top condition, resulting in lower maintenance costs and a significant extension of its service life.

Excellent features

Abcite® & Plascoat® are corrosion resistant (corrosion class CX according to ISO12944-6/-9) and UV and weather resistant. They are particularly plastic, making them resistant to scratching and abrasion. The coatings are applied in a single layer, have extremely good adhesion and edge coverage, and are resistant to many chemicals. 

Widely applicable

In the development of the coatings, sustainability is always paramount. For example, the thermoplastic coatings are free of solvents, heavy metals and other toxic substances. This provides the coatings with a high position on the sustainability ladder. It also ensures that the coatings can be used safely in a wide range of application areas. Theewis: "Think of the drinking water industry, oil and gas industry, shipbuilding and offshore industry. The coatings are used in the steel and automotive industries, but also for utilitarian objects such as the discussed street furniture."

With the most recent addition to the product range - Plascoat®PPA742 primer - there are even more possibilities. This primer provides corrosion protection up to climate class C5 according to ISO12944-6 and is suitable for overcoating with Axalta Alesta® themosetting powder coatings. With this, the finishing possibilities - color, gloss, texture and effect - have become virtually unlimited.