Between the 1st and the 4th of December, Shanghai New International Expo Centre will play host to Marintec China 2015, the largest maritime trade fair in Asia. As a unique business platform for the international maritime industry, this provides Belzona with the opportunity to exhibit their key marine and offshore engineering solutions. This includes applications for some of the most frequently occurring problems, such as the installation of rudder bushes using injection techniques (with composite materials), and coating technology for erosion and corrosion protection, in particular cavitation resistant coatings.

Significantly, the shipping industry is a pivotal cog in the world’s economy and is reliant upon ensuring progression in both vessel engineering and maintenance fields. Therefore, the advances in maritime technology are inexorably linked to improvements in cavitation protection, as one of the main deterioration mechanisms in this industry. New solutions have to accommodate for the increasing speed of vessels, and subsequently severer cavitation damage due to the heightened rate of flow across the substrate. Posing disastrous consequences for assets operating in this environment, it is vitally important to protect the substrate from these growing pressure levels.

Exhibiting at stand N3-H41c, Belzona are eager to highlight their latest innovation in cavitation protection. Amongst the array of maritime solutions, Belzona 2141 (ACR Fluid-Elastomer) has become a key product in the successful protection of metal components subject to severe cavitation and erosion. The polyurethane coating has been designed to withstand the effects of extremely high, localised pressure on areas where abrasion, cavitation, erosion and corrosion resistance are required.

Belzona’s Engineering Director, David Blackwell, commented: “Within the marine environment, Belzona have developed proven technology to counter cavitation problems. In 1994, our first coating specifically designed for cavitation protection, was introduced. Since then, Belzona have successfully carried out a variety of applications in marine vessels, developing an extensive know-how and track record in this area. Continual research and development into these coating systems has assured the provision of long-term cavitation, erosion and corrosion protection, ensuring high quality applications throughout commercial, leisure and military sectors”.

Notably, the advanced design of Belzona 2141 allows the flexible coating to endure ultra-high velocities, up to 115 knots. Speeds of this nature can generate intense cavitation forces on underwater components, such as rudders, kort nozzles, fins and support structures, which Belzona 2141 has been proven to resist. Brush applied, the coating avoids costly replacement, but the product also cures at room temperature, eliminating the need for hot work.

In addition, other latest innovations will be introduced at the show, including erosion-corrosion resistant coatings for valves, filters, propellers and other marine equipment. For more information about these systems, visit Belzona at stand N3-H41c.

About Belzona:

• Established in 1952, Belzona has pioneered innovative polymer technology that has revolutionised industrial repair and maintenance procedures.
• Belzona is a leading company in the design and manufacture of polymer repair composites and industrial protective coatings for the repair, protection and improvement of machinery, equipment, buildings and structures.
• At Harrogate, the full Belzona product range is manufactured to stringent quality and environmental control guidelines complying with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004.
• Belzona has over 140 Distributors in more than 120 countries ensuring not only the availability of Belzona materials, but also specification support, project management, application and supervision services. Distributorships and their teams are supported by Belzona Corporate offices in Europe, North America and Asia.