Col. Ron Savin, U.S. Air Force (retired), is a chemical engineer who has developed more than 400 aerospace and anti-corrosive coatings for private industry and military applications. He is a member of the Steel Structures Painting Council, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Federation of Paint Technicians, Federation of Coatings Technology, Air Force Association, Reserve Officers Association and the Army Navy Club. Col. Savin holds more than 20 patents in the coatings field and is the founder and owner of Hyperseal, Inc., Thousand Palms, CA, a manufacturer of zinc-flake coatings and other protective coatings.
Zinc-rich coatings based on zinc dust have been used on dams, bridges, ships, pipelines and other structures. However, problems associated with the manufacture, storage, handling, cost and application of these materials have limited their use. Advanced coatings containing a low-cost, highly conductive zinc flake material produce superior anticorrosion results compared to conventional zinc dust formulas. Additionally, the greater conductivity of the zinc powder allows the ratio of zinc metal-to-binder to be reduced, thereby lowering the cost of the coating.