Epoxy coating, acidproof brick a success in battery charging room

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)

OSTI ID:6910444

Dellicker, D; Germain, A

East Penn Manufacturing Company produces automotive and large industrial lead-acid batteries, including a line of accessories on private and national labels. The Lyon Stations, Pennsylvania plant has good reason to pay close attention to surface degradation since sulfuric acid is an essential chemical in the manufacturing process. The forming room, where a charge is generated on battery plates in tanks which are periodically refilled, is exposed to occasional spills of 15 to 20% sulfuric acid solutions. In addition, the walls and ceiling are regularly exposed to fumes. After three years, the coating that was originally applied to the concrete block walls exhibited blistering and the concrete surface softened considerably. Noting, however, that the brick and membrane floor in the forming room and similar areas at the plant were unscathed by the acid spills, East Penn engineers decided to consult the supplier of those systems for a way to economically restore and protect the walls. East Penn's maintenance crew began what would become a six-month-long restoration of the curbs, walls and ceilings of the forming room. Preparatory steps included cleaning, sandblasting of all concrete surfaces and neutralization of residual acid with a soda ash solution. Having selected an aromatic amine-cured epoxy coating, workers applied a compatible concrete primer and then spray-applied the coating to a thickness of 1/8'' on walls, ceilings, and floors. The sprayable and trowel-applied aromatic epoxy coatings have been free of deterioration after two years of exposure to sulfuric acid fumes. Moreover, the acid-resistant brick set with 1/8'' bed and head joints of carbon-filled phenolic mortar remains unaffected after six years of chemical and physical abuse.

• OSTI ID: 6910444
• Journal Information: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States); ISSN CHPCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360604* -- Materials-- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
BRICKS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COATINGS
CONCRETES
CORROSION PROTECTION
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DEPOSITION
EPOXIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACE COATING
USES