Corrosion protection
Corrosion control using metal sprayed coatings requires the spraying of an anodic metal in a semi molten form onto an abrasive blast cleaned surface. This forms a metallic layer which protects steel from corrosion by both barrier and sacrificial galvanic action. The two most commonly used materials are Zinc, providing galvanic protection sacrificing itself in preference to the steel, and secondly Aluminum which acts as a passive barrier. 85/15 Alloy (85% Zinc, 15% Aluminium) incorporates the best characteristics
There is no restriction to the grade of steel or the size of the structure that can be metal sprayed. No drying time is needed allowing either instant use or sealers and paint systems to be applied for safety or aesthetic reasons. There is no limit to maximum coating thickness for the structure to be coated as with hot dip galvanizing although thicknesses above 400 micron of zinc or 250 micron of aluminium are not normally specified. Thermal sprayed coatings are the coating of choice for severe marine splash zone and highly corrosive environments offering the highest number of years to first maintenance.
