Mining is a global multi-billion-dollar industry driven by our reliance on natural resources, fossil fuels, and metals. This is a very demanding industry fraught with harsh conditions at every turn. Mining equipment and infrastructure requires the ultimate protection against a variety of unforgiving elements.
In mining, equipment is often exposed to strong chemicals and environmental elements that can cause serious damage, including abrasion and corrosion. These types of damages necessitate expensive repairs, equipment replacements, and operational delays that can cost organizations a great deal of money.
The solution is to use advanced polyurea protective coatings to safeguard mining equipment from these types of exposure that can hinder its performance and cause serious damage. This ultimately saves companies time and money.
In this article, we’ll explore the many benefits of polyurea in the mining industry and how it can effectively protect equipment and infrastructure.
Polyurea Extends Equipment Life
There are many uses for polyurea coatings in the mining industry. Applications for polyurea protection in the mining industry include:
- Truck and equipment bed liners
- Rollers and belts
- Sluices, gates, and conveyors
- Ore cars, diggers, and crushers
- Pipelines, clarifiers, slurry/sludge processing tanks
- Metal structures like walls, roof decks, and floors
- Shaker screens, silos, chutes, hoppers
- I-beams, steel structures, stairs, tanks
It’s not just exposure to environmental elements that can damage these structures and components over time. Constant use and contact with harsh chemicals can also significantly impact the performance of mining equipment. Spraying polyurea coatings on all equipment and the surrounding areas will help protect this equipment from abrasion and corrosion while extending its lifespan and maximizing performance levels.
Fast Turnaround Time and Durable Long-Lasting Protection
Polyurea coatings have an incredibly fast cure time that minimizes operational downtime. Standard fuel tanks can be ready to go with full coverage, curing, and protection in as little as two days. A polyurea coating is applied and once fully dried, a UV-stable topcoat is added to create a durable external and seamless membrane to protect your equipment from corrosion, impact damage, and UV exposure.
Abrasion, Corrosion, and Chemical Resistance for Mining Equipment
As mentioned above mining equipment regularly comes into contact with various chemical compounds and environmental elements that can cause rust and deterioration. Damaged mining equipment is expensive to repair or replace. Applying a spray-on triple action advanced polyurea coating will help protect your mining equipment from abrasion, corrosion, and harsh chemicals while maximizing its functionality.
Increases Onsite Safety Standards and Productivity
Polyurea coatings can be applied with a smooth finish to promote sliding, or textured finish for slip resistance. Slip resistance increases onsite safety, so that workers can move freely and easily maneuver machinery and mining equipment as needed.
Primary or Secondary Containment
Polyurea coatings provide exceptional leak protection by forming a strong yet flexible membrane on the surface of your tanks and other mining equipment. Even when the tanks are storing fuel, chemicals, or corrosive liquids, these tanks are fully protected from leaks.
Vibration and Noise Reduction
In addition to abrasion and corrosion resistance, polyurea coatings reduce noise and vibration that can cause extra wear and tear on gears and bolts.
Polyurea Coatings for Use in the Canadian Mining Industry
IMC Distributors offers a broad range of polyurea protective coatings for the mining industry that are ideal for a variety of onsite applications. Please contact us today to learn more.
Karli Logan is the Owner and President of IMC Distributors which is the exclusive partner of Nukote Coating Systems in Canada. With a B.Sc and M.Sc, as well as a demonstrated history of working across a number of industries, she has a passion to drive significant gains and benefits for IMC’s clients.