By: Andy Odorzynski, Induron National Sales Manager
For more than 35 years, Induron Protective Coatings has manufactured ceramic epoxies for various corrosive environments, including potable water storage tanks and water treatment facilities. On July 31, 2023, the industry will undergo a change as the requirements NSF/ANSI/CAN 600 are adopted into the NSF Std 61 Health Effects Evaluation and Criteria for Chemicals in Drinking Water standard.
Understanding forthcoming changes required by NSF 600
As much of the nation frantically prepares to adopt these new standards, Induron is more than prepared. More than a decade ago, Induron developed several new products for water tank and water treatment plant clients as the nation was in the midst of adopting new standards for VOC emissions. During this process, we were left with a choice:
Develop a product that meets the minimum requirements of today? OR look at the direction of regulation and develop for the future?
As it turns out, our decision to develop for the future is making life much easier for Induron and our partner’s today as the nation prepares for the implementation of NSF 600. Looking toward the coating needs of the future rather than simply replicating existing technology was more difficult, more time consuming and more costly, but we are committed to the idea that our value in this market derives from innovation.
When preparing for the OTC phase 1 regulation, it was clear that the elimination of many more solvents in the future was inevitable. Induron made the choice to not only reduce the VOCs in any new products we developed, but to also go a step further and eliminate Hazardous Air Pollutants (“HAPs”) from new formulas. This was an expensive move, and it absolutely made selling our products more difficult in the short run due to the impact on cost. However, because of this forward-thinking decision Induron products have been releasing lower levels VOC’s and HAPS into the environment for years.
Plus, Induron’s decision to go HAPs free all those years ago left us with a fully-compliant catalog of NSF 61/600-approved ceramic epoxy products, which already have more than a decade of proven performance.
Benefits of NSF 600-approved ceramic epoxy technology
If you have interacted with Induron, you have heard the term “ceramic epoxy.” Ceramic Epoxy refers to a unique pigment package that Induron adds to our epoxy technologies. The ceramic spheres included in the pigment package of Induron’s ceramic epoxies add multiple application and performance benefits for both steel and concrete substrates making ceramic epoxies the perfect solution for water, wastewater, and treatment plants.
When we talk about ceramic epoxy, we are talking about epoxy resin that is fortified with a ceramic pigment. While the ceramic pigments that we use are only part of the pigment package, they are a very important part. These ceramic spheres impart application and performance improvements, such as:
- Reduced permeability.
- Increased film build.
- Prohibition of microbial growth.
Perhaps the most complex and important attribute of ceramic epoxy performance comes from our ability to design the point at which the films adhesion will become greater than its cohesion. This means when a corrosion cell forms, the coating breaks at the point of stress without peeling back to expose more substrate. In this manner, ceramic epoxy has become the proven solution to stop undercutting corrosion and ensure that small repair areas do not spread out to jeopardize the surrounding coatings as they would with non-ceramic epoxies.
Contact Induron Protective Coatings for a Coatings Solution
Induron has the right coatings solution to meet and exceed your needs for the corrosion protection of your assets and provide a long lasting, aesthetically-pleasing appearance. For more information about ceramic epoxy technology, contact an Induron sales representative.