Industrial and architectural protective coatings manufacturer Tnemec Company, Inc. (Kansas City, Missouri, USA) recently introduced three chemical-resistant polymer concretes for use on new or existing surfaces.
The LavaCrete series of high-performance polymer concretes can be applied and returned to service the same or next day and can cure at temperatures down to 40 °F (4.4 °C), according to Dan O’Toole, director of sales for food, beverage, and specialty markets.
“LavaCrete products are all about speed of installation and chemical resistance,” O’Toole says. “These products are ideal for repairing heavily deteriorated concrete surfaces found in facilities where acid drips are common, such as pickling and plating plants, and for casting trenches, sumps, pads, or secondary containment structures.”
Series of Polymer Concretes
Specific LavaCrete polymer concrete products include:
- Series 469 non-shrinking, high-performance epoxy-based polymer concrete for refurbishment in low-temperature conditions where advanced corrosion resistance is required;
- Series 479 non-shrinking, premium grade novolac epoxy-based polymer concrete for added chemical resistance and fast return to service in regular and low-temperature conditions;
- Series 489 premium grade vinyl-ester-based polymer concrete for pump and pad rebuilds in areas of strong acid and caustics.
“Because of their quick cure times, these products are often used in food processing plants where return-to-service time is measured in hours,” O’Toole said. “LavaCrete is also an industry standard for vibration-dampening, corrosion-resistant grouting material under the baseplates of motors and pumps.”
Tripling the Bond Strength
According to the manufacturer, LavaCrete polymer concretes provide three times the bond of normal concrete when applied over surfaces prepared in accordance with the NACE No. 6/SSPC-SP 13 joint surface preparation standard. LavaCrete resists thermal shock and shrinkage and can be installed up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in a single pour.
“With LavaCrete, corrosion protection is provided throughout the entire pour, regardless of its thickness,” O’Toole adds. “Once the polymer concrete is in place, no additional coatings are required and return to service is usually within hours.”
The LavaCrete brand of high-performance polymer concretes were acquired by Tnemec under an agreement with St. Louis, Missouri-based ProPolymer Coatings.
Source: Tnemec, www.tnemec.com.