Preprocessed polyethylene coat protects pipework

A Sterigenics International, Advanced Applications product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 24, 2004

Raprex 400 thermoplastic powder coatings were developed specifically for the protection of industrial steel structures and pipes.

Raprex 400 thermoplastic powder coatings were developed specifically for the protection of industrial steel structures and pipes.

Offering excellent adhesion and coating characteristics, these modified linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) powders can be applied to steel, aluminium, copper and other metals employing standard powder coating techniques.

Although polyethylene normally exhibits poor bonding strength to steel and other metals, Raprex 400 coatings use a proprietary process that imparts improved adhesion and coating characteristics to the base polyethylene material, through oxidation, without the addition of chemical additives or a metallocene catalyst.

The process provides the polyethylene with excellent adhesion to steel (in excess of 6.5N/mm) and other metals, along with improved compatibility to other materials.

This increased compatibility and adhesion also permits the polyethylene to be used in multilayer film and sheet extrusions without intermediate adhesive layers.

According to George Forczek, Product Manager for Raprex: "The inherent inertness of the preprocessed polyethylene ensures excellent protection in chemically corrosive environments, while the abrasion resistance provides a coating that is ideally suited for protecting pipes transporting fluids containing abrasive particles".

Requiring no chemical pretreatment of the substrate, Raprex 400 coatings provide excellent corrosion protection, toughness, and abrasion in a variety of end uses.

In steel pipe applications, the pipes can be simultaneously coated both inside and outside in a fluidised bed at surface temperatures of 240C.

No special treatment of the steel is required and merely shot blasting the steel to physically clean it is all that is required.

In addition to steel and other metals, Raprex 400 powders are being considered as potential coatings for wood, concrete and other polar plastics without the need for any special bonding layer.

Sterigenics International, Advanced Applications Division was formerly known as IBA, Advanced Applications.

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Google Ads

 

Contact Sterigenics International, Advanced Applications

Related Stories

Contact Sterigenics International, Advanced Applications

 

Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Articles by product category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication