Heritage Works

All surfaces can be protectively coated, from parts in industrial, harsh environments to garden furniture exposed to weathering. It is vital for the metal’s structural integrity to be protected and with hot zinc or intumescent coatings, contaminants will have a durable layer to penetrate before reaching the exposed surface. Using a protective coating will give peace of mind to those working with machinery parts or within a large building/structure that the metal components surrounding them will not fail. Investing in protective coatings is essential for improving the longevity of machinery, parts and structures which, in turn, means replacing said items won’t occur as frequently, if at all.

The two main types of protective coatings are hot zinc spraying and intumescent coatings. Hot zinc is a great preventative measure for components of industrial mechanical equipment or items that are exposed to weather conditions and chemicals. As it can be melted and sprayed onto the surface, the thickness can be customised depending on the intensity of the environment’s implications. For large, commercial buildings intumescent - fireproofing - coatings can be applied to avoid the devastating effects fire can have on its structural integrity. It is designed to swell and char to create a barrier from the intense heat damaging the metal, allowing for inhabitants to be evacuated and fire to be stopped.

All metal surfaces should be protected to some degree to ensure corrosion and damage is minimal or eliminated completely. Surfaces and structures that are in particularly harsh or tough environments should definitely be toughened by a protective coating. For example, structures in compromised conditions like oil rigs - where protection from the sea is paramount - can be coated with hot zinc spraying using the Wire-Arc method whereby zinc wires are forced into an electric arc to form liquid particles that are then sprayed onto the substrate. If surfaces are likely to be exposed to intense heat then intumescent paint or coatings will protect and prolong the time it takes the metal beneath from crippling under high temperatures.

Metal parts, machinery components and structures are all subjects to damage from substance reactions such as oxidation, hydrogen, an electrical current or even just bacteria and dirt. Preventing this as best as possible is vital to keeping parts running smoothly and safely; if corrosion occurs and items start to deteriorate and fail, the damage could be life-threatening. Protective coatings will also give a longer life to what it is protecting, ensuring the surface and structures last and don’t require replacing - an efficient money and time saver.

Protective coatings come in all variations to cater for the requirement of the surface, however, the preparation process is similar across the board for all coatings. Whether it be painting, powder or protective all methods require sufficient preparation before anything can be applied. Blast cleaning or abrasive blasting is most commonly used for effective and efficient surface preparation. This method sees the removal of any pollutants that have bonded to or damaged the surface over time; dirt, grease, and old coatings are all considered contaminants and will affect the adherence of the coating to the surface. Once preparation is complete, your coating of choice can be applied. For protective coatings - hot zinc and intumescent - a gun mechanism sprays the material onto the surface, creating a durable layer to then be cooled to set and bond with the surface to provide an undeniably durable and long-lasting protective coating.