Automation of field application of plural component coatings to improve accuracy, productivity

摘要

APPLICATION OF PLURAL component coatings for field rehabilitation projects is normally done manuallynusing fixed ratio or variable ratio metering units. Even the most experienced coating applicators have angreat deal of difficulty maintaining a uniform coating thickness over the entire surface to be coated. Subsequentninspection may find high and low thickness readings resulting in rework to obtain the desire result.nTraditional fixed ratio metering units frequently have no metering ratio control for automatic shutdown if thensystem goes off ratio. Even the newer variable ratio metering equipment only verifies ratio by counting pumpnstrokes which does not monitor the deterioration of pump packings or valve seats.nAutomation of the application process by using a line travel applicator has greatly improved the accuracy of thencoating operation. Continuous monitoring of the flow rates of both components provides immediate feedbacknon metering ratio of the pump unit. Flow rate is also used to determine application speed insuring consistentncoating application thicknesses.nA patented dual pressure purge system uses Argon to purge the mixed coating material from the coatings lines,neliminating the need for solvent cleaning of the lines every time the unit stops. This also permits the unit to stopnand restart at any point on the line without affecting the quality of coating application.nThis paper goes into the details of how the systems works and the data than can be accumulated to documentnall the aspects of the coating operation.