The Environmentally Responsible Choice
Construction, Corrosion and PureFlex Protection
High performance powder coatings are now a staple on building envelope, windows, doors, and commercial storefront applications for architects looking for a high performance, environmentally responsible and beautiful coating choice. However there are many different types of powder coatings, and as well as the high performance exterior grade powders and gorgeous interior powders in thousands of colors and effects, did you know there are powders that are used to protect structural aspects of construction projects?
Did you know bridges, parking garages, low and mid-rise buildings use epoxy powder coatings to protect the steel reinforcing bars, used within these structures, from corrosion? In the 1950’s the federal highway departments began using salts on highways and bridges to keep them safe for motorists during the winter months. While the salts were excellent at keeping roads free from snow and ice, these chlorides began to penetrate cracks in the concrete and attack the bare steel reinforcing bars, which in turn, began to prematurely corrode and lead to weakening of the structures. Soon, a solution was found by applying fusion bonded epoxy powder to the steel reinforcing bars prior to shipping them to jobsites. Fusion bonded epoxy powder coatings offers an excellent corrosion barrier to the chlorides and dramatically extends the life of these structures. In 1973 the first bridge was constructed using fusion bonded epoxy powder coating in Pennsylvania. Since then, over 600,000 tons of epoxy coated steel are produced annually.
All fusion bonded epoxy powder coatings for reinforcing steel are supplied by certified application plants across the United States. Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute uses an independent firm to audit the application plants on an annual basis to ensure the highest quality epoxy coated bars are produced and sold to the market.
Fusion bonded epoxy is applied using the very strict standards of ASTM A775 or ASTM A934 specifications. The powder is applied to steel that has been blasted with steel shot to a specific surface profile, then enters an induction heater that preheats the steel to approximately 450F and finally enters a coating booth where 7-12 mils of coating are applied.
Epoxy coated reinforcing steel provides an excellent corrosion barrier to extend the service life of bridges, parking garages and low to mid-rise buildings. It has been used in these applications for over 40 years and has been proven to be the best, low cost, corrosion resistant product on the market!