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If you have been involved in the Surface Prep & Coating industry for the past few decades, you have seen the winds of change blow in many directions. Environmental concerns reshaped the industry several decades ago to the point no one thought they could continue to make a living under such strict standards, now, the standards of 30 years ago seem primitive by comparison of the low VOC output products available on the market today.

Water—it’s essential for life, but also one of the most destructive elements on the planet. On military ships, the corrosive environment caused by salt water and marine growth can lead to structural weaknesses, as well as logistical and financial inefficiencies. Without the proper ship surface preparation before applying anti-corrosive coating, the coating will not adhere to a ship as well and will prematurely break down.

Abrasive blasting uses various materials to strip imperfections, paint, rust, and other contaminants from a surface. It’s an important step in surface coating preparation, as it cleans a substrate and creates a surface that will hold a protective coating. Blasting takes the place of more labor-intensive cleaning methods like wire brushing or sanding and can speed up the surface preparation process by up to 75 percent.

Corrosion prevention is vital to maintenance, safety and preservation of equipment. Without the right environmental conditions during the surface coating preparation, application and drying stages, the life of the preventive coating shortens, thus increasing maintenance costs. For this reason, companies often look to temporary climate control to ensure the success of the protective coating applications.

While water is essential to life, it’s one of the most destructive elements on the planet. Without the use of a water tank surface coating, the substrate in a municipal tank is vulnerable to factors such as corrosion, deterioration and nitrification. The destructive problems compromise the safety of the water within a tank and reduce the tank’s service life. Maintenance that includes the proper application of surface coatings mitigates these risks and increases a tank’s durability.