Enhanced Protective Ceramic Topcoat for Water Tanks & Towers

Corrosion of áDoD-owned water towers poses a significant financial and health issue, which has been addressed during past decades via two-component (2K) polyurethane topcoat application. While current two-component (2K) anti-corrosion coatings do confer adequate protection against the damaging effects of corrosion, these coatings can be improved upon in terms of both effectiveness and longevity Considering the significant yearly maintenance cost caused by corrosion, finding a cheaper, more environmentally friendly solution to combat corrosion would benefit the DOD greatly. Element 119ĺs proposed solution adapts the outstanding protective properties of our System X Maxácommercial topcoat with anti-corrosion components from our WTC (Water Tank Corrosion) topcoat for water towers that is equivalent or superior to the USAFĺs current topcoats. The proposed coating is a moisture-curable topcoat based on siloxane polymers with extended chains, compatible with an array of primers, and enhanced with fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) resins. áThe siloxanes in the topcoat form SiľO bonds that are significantly stronger than the CľH and CľC bonds that form in typical organic molecule-based topcoats. The increased bond strength confers enhanced protection against ultraviolet (UV) oxidation, thus allowing our proposed coating to have superior protection against sunlight-induced fading over the topcoats currently used on Air Force water towers. The proposed modification of our Maxátopcoat via the addition of anti-corrosion components found in our WTC topcoat will result in our companyĺs most durable protective coating. Exceptionally hard (9H on the pencil hardness test), Maxáis flexible (0% @ 180║ rotation on the Mandrel bend test ASTM D522), durable (80/80 in/lbs on impact test ASTM D2794), and thin (up to 0.9 mil thick). It resists temperatures to 1,000║F, performs well in harsh environments (>400 hours to first signs of corrosion in salt spray test ASTM B117), is easily applied by high volume low pressure (HVLP) gun or by hand, and dries in 40 minutes, with an initial cure in 4 hours. The product is currently available for sale to automotive, aerospace, and marine markets. In 2022 alone, it has generated revenue of over $2.45 million. Utilizing key components of the anti-corrosion WTC topcoat to enhance our Maxátopcoat will lead to the development of a protective coating that protects base assets from degradation and extends the lifecycle of these base assets. The new and improved solution under development promises to benefit the Air Force, as well as non-defense customers, in several ways. First, it will provide excellent protection against corrosion, which can cause damage to structures and make them unsafe. Durable, long-lasting, easy to clean, and easy to apply, this topcoat will also equate to fewer maintenance hours and less frequent application.