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The Ultimate Patented Viscous Elastic Coating Technology
The philosophy behind the development of VISCOTAQ is that - unlike other coatings - VISCOTAQ always has a permanent and intimate contact with the surface of a substrate. The core of the invention is that VISCOTAQ is a solid whereby the viscous modulus and the elasticity modulus of the material are designed in such a way that the viscosity modulus creates a cold flow under pressure hence forcing the material to flow into the pores and anomalies of the substrates whereas the elasticity modules gives the strength and elasticity of a solid. With the development of VISCOTAQ we succeeded in combining the strength and properties of flow and a solid material in one product.
The result is a patented and unique product that will definitely put an end to your corrosion problems. Let’s see how VISCOTAQ’s viscous elastic technology solves typical corrosion problems.
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Elimination of salt and osmosis problems
With VISCOTAQ the presence of salt particles on a substrate is no issue :
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VISCOTAQ is impermeable for water and has no selective character.
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VISCOTAQ is a-polar and rejects water.
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VISCOTAQ has an extreme good adhesion and a very intimate permanent contact with the surface of a substrate. Its permanent low viscous character prevents pressure to build up and the coating to disbond.
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VISCOTAQ will eventually absorb any salt particles present.
Due to its impermeable character to moisture and its surface tension the phenomenon of osmosis does not occur. Combined with the self healing characteristics of VISCOTAQ, minor pinholes are dealt with easily and damages may heal automatically over time.
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Elimination of adhesion problems
The intimate contact between VISCOTAQ and the substrate’s surface, essential for a perfect adhesion, is extremely good as VISCOTAQ has excellent flow and flexible characteristics. Volume changes in the coating due to physical forces are not an issue anymore. Due to the characteristics of the coating a perfect surface preparation is not necessary anymore. A surface preparation of ST-2 or SSPC-3 is sufficient although it is advised to always clean to a level SA-2-1/2 or SSPC-10. VISCOTAQ can be considered as a solid coating but has a flow under pressure and a low surface tension. VISCOTAQ has a cohesive fracture : when peeled off, the material will show an internal fracture and a protective film is left on the pipe. The material flows into the pores of the pipe. The material will show some viscous cold flow, and has adhesive properties based upon van der Waals interaction with the surface. This process is a continuous process that will accelerate due to the pressure of soil and/or a mechanical outer wrap. Due to the use of a 100% inert formulation, VISCOTAQ does not contain any reactive groups and will not deteriorate in the course of time. VISCOTAQ will not crack, nor become brittle and will remain in its solid state.
Elimination of Microbiological Induced Corrosion (MIC)
With VISCOTAQ the phenomenon of MIC does not occur. The permanent viscous elastic material consist of an organic polymeric composition with inorganic filler material. No water and no nitrogen nutrients are available in and under the coating and it is therefore impossible for micro-organism to grow on this material under anaerobic conditions. VISCOTAQ is hydrophobic and water repellent and permeation of water can be neglected. It is clear: if no water is present, bacterial life is impossible.40 years written warranty
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With VISCOTAQ MIC does not occur because :
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No water is present at the boundary of metal/coat wrap.
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No nitrogen is available in the coat wrap.
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No initial bacterial activity is present in the coat wrap.
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The wrap coating intimates with the substrate due to its continuous flexible behavior. There is a real adhesion with the substrate based upon Van Der Waals Forces and no space for any substance to creep between the layer and the substrate and a cohesive failure.
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Coat wrap is under permanent pressure.
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Coat wrap is impermeable for water and oxygen.
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No permeability for ionic species from soil e.g. nitrate, nitrite, ammonium.
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No water available and the ions are insoluble in the a-polar material.
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VISCOTAQ is water repellent.
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Material is slightly alkaline (pH8, which is unfavourable for Sulphate Reducing Bacteria).
Elimination of surface preparation problems
VISCOTAQ has a very low surface tension and due to its viscous properties and the characteristics of the main components, the material shows a perfect adhesion to all materials, even to polyethylene and polypropylene. As soon as VISCOTAQ is applied on a substrate it will start wetting the substrate’s surface and a perfect adhesion will exist.
The critical issue of a perfect surface preparation, especially in the field, is not an issue with VISCOTAQ. Here is the advantage of VISCOTAQ : the minimum surface preparation is ST-2 or SSPC-3. Sand- or gritblasting up to a level SA-2.1/2 or SSPC-10 however is recommended but not strictly necessary. Removal of sand, debris, loose parts and grease is always required.
No permeation of moisture and gases
Due to the water repellent properties of the components and the low surface tension VISCOTAQ is impermeable to moisture and gases. Moreover the low surface tension of the material and permanent low viscous characteristics will prevent any moisture to penetrate the coating or to creep under the coating.
OTHER ADVANTAGES AND CHARACTERISTICS
40 years guarantee
If applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions a 40 years warranty is issued for all VISCOTAQ products.
Cohesive failure
Unlike other coating materials, VISCOTAQ has a cohesive failure. When peeled off a layer will always remain on the pipeline with enough wetting properties for corrosion protection.
No curing time
VISCOTAQ has an immediate adhesion to the substrate’s surface. There is no curing time and back fill of the trench can take place immediate after application of the material. Risk of pinholes due to sand particles, mosquitos or other materials is eliminated.
Low cathodic disbondment values.
Due to the permanent wetting characteristics VISCOTAQ has very low cathodic disbondment values.
Low glass transition temperature
VISCOTAQ has a glass transition temperature of -42 C /-43,6 F or lower and can be applied in cold areas as well as in hot areas. As long as it is applied above the dew point it will always have a perfect adhesion to the pipeline’s substrate.
Self healing characteristics Due to the viscous elastic properties of the material VISCOTAQ is self healing. Minor pinholes and damages in the coating may automatically seal especially in buried circumstances.
Heavy Duty applications
VISCOTAQ can be combined with a variety of specially designed VISCOTAQ outer wraps for mechanical protection. For regular applications we recommend the VISCOTAQ heavy duty PVC or PE outer wrap. In case of heavy horizontal or vertical shear loads in underground application VISCOTAQ PE-shrink-tape can be applied on top of the corrosion protective layer. In rocky areas or in areas where back fill material contains heavy stones VISCOSHIELD will protect the coating against the heaviest impact. This UV curing polyester comes on a roll and can be cut to size and applied on top of the VISCOTAQ coating.
High yield point
Although VISCOTAQ has wetting characteristics, from a physical point of view the material is a solid with a melting point of 152,9 C. Contrary to a typical fluid VISCOTAQ has a typical yield point and it will not show any dripping behaviour at elevated temperatures.
Easy application
Although special trainings and certificates are part of the VISCOTAQ program, the application of VISCOTAQ products does not require any special tools. A complete application manual is supplied to each customer with application instruction for VISCOTAQ materials in all situations.
Separation between corrosion prevention and mechanical protection
VISCOTAQ is protected by an outer wrap for mechanical protection. In this way the main goal -corrosion prevention- is separated from the mechanical protection whereas many coating systems try to combine both characters in one material. From a physical point of view this is difficult and it usually leads to a sacrifice of one or more properties.
Stable material
VISCOTAQ is made of low molecular weight amorphous a-polar polyolefin components with no reactive groups nor free radicals. Due to the amorphous structure the coatings has no crystalline behaviour. VISCOTAQ is 100% inert and with absence of free radicals VISCOTAQ remains stable for decades. No deterioration of the material takes place.
Aggressive soils
VISCOTAQ is excellent for application in aggressive soils, like Subkha areas in the Gulf Cooperating Countries and on the Subcontinent. High contents of chlorides or sulphur products will not affect the coating and the presence of salt particles can be neglected as they will not affect the performance of the coating.
VISCOTAQ in a nutshell
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Worldwide patented viscous-elastic amorphous a-polar polyolefin
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Solid material with high resistance to shear and stable at elevated temperatures. Immediate adhesion to a substrate without primer
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Impermeable to moisture and gases
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Immediate adhesion to a substrate without primer
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Remaining plastic and flexible characteristics
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Permanent wetting characteristics
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Cold flow under pressure
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Glass transition temperature -42 C/-43,6 F
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Self healing characteristics
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Eliminates the risk for Microbiological Induced Corrosion
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No curing time
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Surface preparation minimum ST-2 (commercial brush) or SSPC-3
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Surface preparation SA-2.1/2 or SSPC-10 however is recommended.
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No problems with salts and osmosis
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Inert material. No deterioration in the course of time
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Cohesive fracture
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100% inert formulation. No reactive groups and no deterioration in the course of time. VISCOTAQ will not crack, nor become brittle and remains in its semi solid state .
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40 years written warranty