Applications by Industry

Benefits by Industry

Architectural and Engineering.  Most fluorinated coatings used today in Architectural and Engineering applications are baked-on at the factory. They scratch easily, are prone to damage during installation, and cannot be touched up in the field. Our coatings spray-on, are applied in the field, are mechanically tough, and abrasion resistant. FPU^TM adheres well to epoxy and to itself; so it can be touched up easily.

Industrial and Military Equipment.  FPU^TM coatings are cost effective because they prevent corrosion damage to expensive equipment, avoid costly downtime. Its impermeability provides the best possible corrosion barrier. Its mechanical toughness, chemical inertness, and resistance to UV radiation mean that FPU^TM will out-last nearly any other coating. Its non-stick surface inhibits soiling, promotes easy cleaning, and minimizes the buildup of damaging substances on the equipment. We make several versions that are specially optimized for environments where the equipment is exposed to chemical, and mechanical damage.

Marine Industry.  The U.S. Coast Guard selected FPU^TM for the topside of the USCG Tampa. Several of our systems are certified in the Lloyds Registry (for Refined Spirits Tanks, Crude Oil Tanks, and Bilge and Double Hull Void Spaces). FPU^TM is cost effective in marine applications because its durability minimizes dry dock costs and the associated loss of the earning capacity of the vessel. Dry dock fees for painting a vessel are typically 5 times the cost of the coating. In addition, fouling by marine organisms such as barnacles can reduce the fuel efficiency by as much as 25% and also compromises a ship's maneuverability and operating range. Our non-stick coatings inhibit fouling and so avoid its negative economic effects. The economic case for our coatings is becoming more compelling as the deadline (January 2003) approaches for suspending the use of the alternative, toxic anti-fouling paints.

Petroleum Industry.  The U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAEC) mandates FPU^TM for the interior lining of its welded-steel fuel tanks. For POL Tanks, our interior lining is cost effective for two reasons. First, the non-stick surface cuts cleaning time in half and it allows crews to clean tanks without using detergent. They can use standard commercial separators to recover the petroleum and dispose of the water without treating it as hazardous waste. Secondly, FPU^TM saves the cost of Recoating. This is particularly important because labor and environmental protection cost account for approximately 95% of the cost of coating a tank; the cost of the coating itself is 5% of the total. Our coating is 2 to 3 times as durable as traditional epoxy and polyurethane alternatives. Thus by spending an extra 5% up front, owners avoid the recurrence of 100% of the cost, two or three times over. Similar economics apply to TLP applications. In this case, however, it is the inherent difficulty of servicing an offshore platform that makes the maintenance cost high and the advantages of FPU^TM particularly compelling.

Wind Turbines.  Our coatings have a 20-year design lifetime, withstand UV radiation, protect materials from moisture penetration, and mitigate the drag producing fouling of rotor blades by birds and insects. Our product's durability and the associated avoidance of maintenance are particularly important for two reasons. First, even minor soiling causes turbulence, which reduces the energy output of the turbine. Our non-stick surface inhibits fouling buildup and allows the blades to clean themselves in the rain. Second maintenance is expensive because the owner loses the earning capacity of the turbine while it is offline for maintenance. With the present trend for locating wind turbines off shore, these economic advantages become even more compelling.