Plascoat PPA 571 in Construction Projects

Plascoat has been involved in major construction projects around the world where a highly durable, long lasting and resilient finish is among the criteria for the specifying architects – along with, of course, the requirement for superior corrosion protection for the base metal. Traditional coating materials such as EVA and Polyamides have, on many occasions, failed to live up to the expectations in countries that put coatings to a stern test.

Projects like the footbridge in Angora near San Sebastian in Northern Spain required a new type of coating as, after only a few months, the polyamide coating began to peel from the sections. The search was on for a coating that could accommodate the wide temperature range, provide a high level of UV resistance, meet the requirements of a tightening budget, and offer a coating life in excess of 10 years.

Plascoat PPA 571 was the answer with its high level of durability and weatherability and long term adhesion to both steel and aluminium. Regular inspections of this project indicate that the lifetime criteria of 10 years will be easily surpassed. Indeed after 7 years the coating still retains the same gloss and colour and mechanical properties and still looks like new. Another project where Plascoat were called upon to provide a solution involved the Paris based engineers, Freyssinet, who were managing a project to construct the Colindres Viaduct. After only six months the previous coating had deteriorated and started to peel off under the effects of UV rays, salt attack, and extreme temperatures. Once again, therefore it was the harsh climate that would be the principal reason PPA 571 was chosen.

Since re-coating all of these parts in PPA 571(around 650, 3 metre, 200-300 diameter tubes – nearly 2 km in all) the effects of the worst of the Spanish weather, salt and traffic pollutants have failed to take the gloss off Plascoat PPA 571.

18-year test proves PPA 571 is ideal for harsh environments

Claims made for the long-term adhesion, UV and salt spray resistance of Plascoat's PPA 571 thermoplastic construction coating have been upheld in the toughest of 18-year tests in Spain.

The pictures above show an early example coated in 1990. It is the Pasarela Pealonal de Anorga, a 25-metre local authority footbridge over a railway line near the Northern coastal town of San Sebastian. The authorities originally wanted the coating to stop vandals carving their names on the structure but in the event it has proven to be an excellent test site for PPA 571. It has of course been subjected to a salty atmosphere in sun and rain over 18 years.

The green structure was coated in PPA 571 whilst the red handrails were originally polyester coated. You can see that the PPA 571 coating still looks "like new" whilst the handrails have had to be repainted three times. In addition here is an area that was deliberately uncoated. You can see that after 18 years by the sea there is no under-film corrosion or blistering.

See video on YouTube

The Northern Spanish experience supports earlier performance data from sites around the world, including the harsh environment of the Arizona desert. There PPA 571 has overcome a chronic leakage problem on a ferric cure line in the copper leaching operation of the Cyprus Miami Mining Corporation. The pipes and couplings have to contend with the internal corrosive effect of a cure solution containing sulphuric acid and chlorides as well as external environmental extremes including temperatures in excess of 40 °C.

Plascoat PPA 571 - Building Regulations 2000 - Access and use of buildings, M1 and M2 ("Warm to the touch" coating for new handrail regulations)

Plascoat PPA 571, the industry's first thermoplastic polymer alloy coating designed for the long term cost effective protection of metals, is taking the industry by storm following tests showing that it is one of the warmest-feeling coatings on the market. This feature is now proving to be a major breakthrough in the face of new regulations in the United Kindgom.

May 2004 saw the introduction of the UK's Building Regulations 2000, Access to and Use of Buildings, Part M1 and M2 stipulating the handrails needed to be "slip resistant and not cold to the touch".

One key attribute of Plascoat PPA 571 is a tactile quality that give as 'warm to the touch' feel.

Unlike traditional coatings such as wet paints, polyester or PVC based products, PPA 571's chemical make-up is such that it is an excellent thermal insulator making it warm to the touch even in winter. In fact the colder the ambient temperature - the more noticeable the warmth of the coating. In single coat applications, thicknesses of 170 to 300 microns (7-12 mils) can be achieved, and by flock-spraying or fluidised bed dipping, up to 750 microns (30mils) can be attained, preventing heat from the hand transferring to the metal surface.

Another key feature of Plascoat's PPA 571 in the light of the new regulations is that although extremely smooth and glossy, the surface is also slip resistant. It is available in a wide range of colours and more recently, in various finishes ensuring that the aesthetic appeal of a coating can be considered as well as compliance with the UK's new regulations.

PPA 571 achieved this performance whilst also remaining environmentally friendly. No constituents feature on the Environmental Health 2000 list as the formulation contains no solvents, there are no VOCs, there are no heavy metals including zinc, no TGICs, no phthalates and no halogens.

Typical examples include the Riverside Housing Development in Gateshead, Kingston upon Thames Hospital, the London Science Museum and the Colchester Army Barracks.

Plascoat PPA 571 for Cable Trays

Plascoat PPA 571 has been used for the coating of cable trays and supports for the Au Tam Mei water treatment plant in Hong Kong.

The application demanded a high degree of corrosion protection due to the high humidity and UV levels on a coastal location experiencing constant salt attack.

The greater protection properties of the thick film PPA coating, fluidised bed dipped to 250 micron over the galvanised mild steel cable trays, was another factor in the decision to move away from paint, PVC or Duplex coating systems.

Other considerations were that PPA 571 was halogen free, and of extremely low toxicity and low smoke levels in the event of fire. PPA571 meets the requirements for low smoke of the US Federal Railroad Administration and London Underground. Contact Plascoat for more details.

The use of Plascoat PPA571 for the coating of cable trays and supports continues to increase. Other examples are:

Specification for the coating of Cable Supports

Graffiti can be removed form Plascoat PPA 571 coatings by using a rough cloth

Excellent results can be achieved using graffiti/paint removers such as "Graffiti Go" and Interplus 634

Graffiti on Plascoat PPA 571 coatings can often be removed solely with a wipe of a cloth.

However, the use of a solvent such as MEK will help to remove the graffiti quicker.

For excellent and quick results using primarily water-based removers that leave virtually no mark on the coating try the following:

"Graffiti Go" - available from a suitable stockist worldwide

"Interplus 634" from International Paints - http://www.international-pc.com/pc/pds/634br_uk.pdf

Scribex 300 (Henkel Surface Technologies)

These product will also easily remove the adhesive from fly-posters.