Corrosion is a constant enemy of all materials and coatings that are exposed to the elements. Proper protection against rust and other forms of corrosion is crucial not only for durability, but also for the safety and functionality of various structures and equipment. One of the most effective tools for assessing the corrosion resistance of materials is the salt chamber test, also known as the salt spray test. For our client working with a variety of materials, the requirement was to achieve a maximum approach under the paint coating of up to 5mm after 300h in the salt chamber. What results did we get?
Materials
We carried out trials on a really wide cross-section of the materials our client works with. These included samples of steel, hot-dip galvanised and extruded aluminium. Did the Kairos technology behave similarly on the different materials? We will refrain from commenting, although we must admit that we were reassured about the outcome of the test. We show the photos taken after the test.
Test results - exemplary behaviour of the coating
As can be seen from the photos, after 300 hours of salt spray chamber testing, no paint film approach appeared on any of the samples, and only mechanically disturbed areas underwent corrosion/reaction. Anyone in the paint industry knows how important the durability of the coating is to the recipient of the product. A durable coating can translate into a better/safer guarantee, fewer complaints and can even be an element of competitive advantage ( e.g. our products look better despite the passage of time).
But that's not all
Work is underway on the implementation of Kairos products. We already know at the planning stage that it will be possible to shorten the surface preparation line for painting from six to three zones. But that is not all. In our view, an equally important benefit to improving the quality and durability of the coating is the reduction in bath temperature from 45°C at 25°C. How much energy savings can such a change generate? We discussed the topic in our presentation at the Wagner Painting Symposium in 2024.
