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Combining the right sealant with the right sprayer
BTA chooses Graco’s XM70 plural-component sprayer for its more demanding coating jobs.
Established in 2004 and based in the Italian town of Avella, BTA (Building Technologies Applications) specializes in resin applications and systems. Their activities cover the design, installation and construction of resinous systems and formulations for the protection of industrial facilities, civil construction projects, hospitals, as well as food establishments that must comply with particular hygiene and contact regulations.
Most of their work involves protecting floors, roofs, and hydraulic structures. To do this, the company uses either polyurethane- or epoxy-based products with a medium-term pot life, or products of a different nature, such as fast-hardening polyurea sealant.
In recent times, due to growing widespread concern for the environment combined with the need for better-performing waste management and sewage treatment systems, BTA has recognized the necessity to recover or activate purification systems that are increasingly protected from chemical damage. All this has pushed the technology towards the formulation of improved protective agents for reinforced concrete or for steel, and most of the time, also with a shorter pot life.
Protection against gases inside digesters
Recently, BTA has been requested to protect concrete structures from corrosion caused by gases released inside digesters. A specific example is hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which is produced by the anaerobic breakdown of organic substances contained inside these structures. Sulfur dioxide can be oxidized by other bacteria to create sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which attacks concrete in a process called biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion. These acid attacks can reduce the thickness of unprotected concrete by 6 to 12 mm per year.
Only a few products on the market can guarantee maximum protection against this gas, and also have a reaction time that is long enough to allow them to be conveniently applied by hand. BTA therefore conducted research into high-performing materials that can also ensure uniform application and thus the creation of a protective film barrier with a constant thickness, despite the need for it to dry rapidly.
For these types of jobs, BTA uses the following application cycle. Firstly, mechanical sanding of the entire surface to be treated, using a diamond wheel. The second stage is to spray the solvent-free primer using an airless sprayer. The third and final stage involves using a suitable system to spray two coats of the waterproofing membrane.
Xolutec for high durability
For these and other demanding coating applications, BTA uses the two-component crack-bridging membrane MasterSeal M 790 based on Xolutec technology. It is specially developed to provide seamless waterproofing for the inflow and outflow areas of water purification plants, sewage pipelines, biogas plants and reservoirs. In such applications it provides excellent protection against chemical attack, corrosion and carbonation. It is particularly effective in countering the effects of biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion.
One of its advantages is that it cures quickly, even at low temperatures, so it can be used quickly. For example, it has a pot life of approximately 25 minutes at +10°C, 20 minutes at +20°C and 15 minutes at +30°C. This means that it is absolutely crucial to use an extremely fast and reliable two-component mixing and spraying system.
Graco’s XM70 proves ideal
To spray the MasterSeal M 790 waterproofing membrane based on Xolutec technology, BTA uses Graco’s XM70 system. This high-performance plural-component sprayer provides precise ratio control and handles a wide range of two-component materials. It’s engineered to proportion accurately, even at high flow rates, which in turn increases productivity and reduces waste. The XM70 comes with an advanced, intuitive user control interface that provides real-time display of the ratio. Historical spraying data can be easily accessed and downloaded via the USB port. It supports multiple spray guns for added productivity, and handles material ratios from 1:1 to 10:1.
“We find that the Graco XM70 plural-component sprayer offers outstanding control over the mix ratio, which remains consistent and accurate throughout the application process,” says Pasquale Maisto, Technical Director at BTA. “Furthermore, its operation is simple, and the machine as a whole is fast and reliable. It copes exceptionally well with the short pot life of the MasterSeal M 790.”
More information
If you are interested in using the Graco XM plural-component sprayer, fill in the contact form below and we'll connect you with a specialist who would be delighted to discuss your specific requirements or set up a product demonstration.
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