The financial impact of plant shut downs, reduced efficiency, capital replacement and maintenance due to biofouling in power, water and industrial facilities is estimated at millions of dollars. AkzoNobel has introduced a new fouling-control system into the North American power and water and wastewater segments to help reduce these costs.

Designed specifically for use in wet or underwater service applications, Intersleek® 381/425 helps reduce maintenance and cleaning costs associated with fouling control without the harmful environmental impact of biocides. When applied with standard spray equipment and used in conjunction with suitable anticorrosive primers, the thermally and chemically resistant three-coat system offers a highly effective, long-life fouling solution.

The first coat consists of Intershield^® 300HS, International’s thick-film, corrosion-resistant primer. The second coat is Intersleek^® 381, a modified silicone polymer that attaches to a non-slick finish to provide the first level of antifouling defense. The third coat is Intersleek 425, an advanced silicone polymer that produces a low-tension, non-stick surface. The coating's low-energy surface tension makes it difficult for biofouling to effectively attach, even at low water currents.

Typical areas of antifouling application include penstocks and trash screens, sewage clarifier tanks, fresh water intakes, tunnels, and freshwater channels.

Karl Nollsch, AkzoNobel’s North American Water and Wastewater Market Champion, explains, “Industries that rely on equipment operating in wet environments are continuously faced with the problem of fouling growth, which can affect the performance and safety of equipment. This problem can be particularly costly when the equipment operates underwater and there is limited access for vital maintenance and repair. Unlike biocide-containing fouling-control systems, Intersleek does not have to be replenished and is considered to have a lifetime equal to most undamaged, underwater structures. It is by far the most cost-effective fouling-control option for static wet structures.”

For more information, visit www.international-pc.com/north-america.