Coal tar epoxy is a protective coating made of tar, fillers, a gelling agent, and a curing agent. It prevents corrosion on equipment used in or near water and is resistant to mild chemicals. It can be used on ship hulls, underground tanks and pipes, wastewater treatment plants, and food industries. The mixture can be sprayed or brushed onto concrete, metal, or asbestos. Proper safety precautions are necessary when applying the substance. Tar has been used as a sealant for hundreds of years.
Coal tar epoxy is a protective coating consisting of tar, fillers, a gelling agent and a curing agent. The substance prevents corrosion on equipment used in or near fresh or salt water. It is also resistant to some mild chemicals, acids and alkali solutions in extreme environments.
Epoxies allow for expansion and contraction in coal tar epoxy applications. The mixture also adheres to oily surfaces, making it suitable for painting on garage floors or for application to underground tanks and pipes. Other underground storage tanks, such as septic tank systems, can also be treated with this type of epoxy to extend their life.
A common use of this epoxy is coating ship hulls. The protective coating repels water and protects against tidal action which can lead to corrosion. Basins are often lined with the material to protect them from deterioration from salt or fresh water.
Industrial uses of coal tar epoxy include the protection of metal equipment used in wastewater treatment plants and food industries where brine is used. Chemical waste pipes can also be lined with the material to increase the life of the equipment. Manufacturers that use weak acids to produce goods typically use coal tar epoxy to protect against chemical immersion.
Coal tar comes from raw coke that is distilled at extremely high temperatures. The pitch created by this process is mixed with epoxy polymer resins and other ingredients and is purchased in two parts. Before use, the coal tar and epoxy blends are combined, resulting in a chemical reaction between the base product and the hardener.
The mixture can be sprayed or brushed onto concrete, metal or asbestos. The first coat should be allowed to dry for approximately 10 hours before applying a second coat. The curing process usually takes about a week.
Goggles and skin protection are recommended when applying the substance. Proper ventilation is also suggested to avoid breathing vapors that smell of asphalt. Coal tar epoxy can also stain leather.
Tar has been used as a sealant for hundreds of years. In the 1700s, the Chumash Indians of coastal California used the natural tar that washed ashore to seal waterproof canoes and baskets. The canoes were called tomals, and were used to travel up and down the coast and to nearby islands. Although the Chumash tribe no longer seals their canoes with tar, they continue to appear on the region’s beaches.
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