| One of the most environmentally-friendly methods of | | | | conveyor system and subjected to the epoxy |
| protective coating is epoxy coating, which is a | | | | coating process. |
| product of natural and organic resin. Resin, which | | | | To prepare steel surfaces for the epoxy coating |
| often comes from coniferous trees and plants, is | | | | process, blast cleaning is done to remove rust, scales |
| valued for its ability to synthesize chemically and turn | | | | and other contaminants from the steel surface. The |
| into useful products like varnish, adhesives, perfumes, | | | | end result of blast cleaning is a rough surface finish |
| and epoxy coating, among others. | | | | called a profile. The profile increases the effective |
| Epoxy resin is manufactured through a process of | | | | surface area of the steel and provides better |
| polymerization. The organic epoxy resin is combined | | | | anchorage for epoxy coating when it is later applied |
| with catalyzing agents, fillers, and pigments to turn | | | | to the steel bar. |
| into a dry powder which, when heated, melts and | | | | Blast cleaning involves the release of compressed air |
| causes a reaction that allows the formation of | | | | on to the steel surface, propelling abrasives like steel |
| complex cross-linked polymers. Once cured and dried, | | | | grit, garnet, or coal slag to hit the surface, resulting |
| epoxy coating provides strong, UV-resistant, and | | | | to pock marks that cleanses and roughens the |
| permanent protection to steel materials. | | | | surface. |
| Fusion-Bonded Epoxy (FBE) Coating | | | | After the rebars have been blast-cleaned, they are |
| Fusion-bonded epoxy coating is a method of applying | | | | heated and sprayed with dry epoxy powder. When |
| corrosion-protective epoxy coating to steel pipes, | | | | dry epoxy powder is ejected from spray nozzles |
| rebars (reinforcement bars), pipes and valves. Epoxy | | | | they are imparted with electrical charges that are |
| powder is melted at temperature ranges of between | | | | automatically attracted to the already grounded |
| 180 to 250°C (360 to 480 °F), and | | | | heated bars. The dry powder melts and flows into |
| transforms into a liquid element that flows and | | | | the steel's heated surface, anchoring to the ribs and |
| adheres into the steel surface. Once the liquid | | | | deformations in the surface. The heat also induces a |
| powder dries, it cross-links or "fusion-bonds" to the | | | | chemical reaction that transforms the epoxy powder |
| surface of the steel material permanently, protecting | | | | molecules into complex cross-linked polymers, forever |
| the steel structure effectively and permanently. | | | | changing the material into its final state. |
| Fusion-bonded epoxy coatings are used extensively in | | | | A 30-second curing process solidifies the epoxy |
| industries requiring steel pipes and fittings that are | | | | coating, with an air or water quench introduced to |
| corrosion-free. Because epoxy coating is made from | | | | reduce the temperature quicker for easy handling. |
| environmentally-friendly materials, structures with | | | | The process of manufacturing epoxy coating, and |
| epoxy coatings do not contain | | | | the coating process itself, are efficient and |
| environmentally-hazardous solvents or substances | | | | environment-safe, with little material lost to the |
| that will come off and cause health and safety risks. | | | | atmosphere, even lesser waste, and zero |
| The Epoxy Coating Process | | | | contaminants. Because of the environmental |
| Epoxy coating plants commonly coat bars that are | | | | consideration and to comply with environmental |
| pre-cut in straight lengths of around 40 to 60 feet. | | | | safety standards, epoxy coating remain a viable |
| The bars are then cut and bent to meet project | | | | choice to protective coating. |
| specifications. The bars are carried through a | | | | |