Equipment is often designed and manufactured for continuous use with minimal attention to downtime issues. Thus equipment owners must ensure that during planned or surprise downtime, surfaces stay protected from the elements. There are a number of factors to consider when preparing for downtime protection, and it’s important to avoid endangering the integrity of your valuable equipment.
First, it’s essential to know what might cause downtime and how to get ahead of it. Equipment shutdowns can spring up randomly and can last anywhere from a single evening to several months depending on the scenario. It’s best to have a contingency plan for up to a full quarter of possible downtime. Fortunately, with even minor planning and preparation, protection is a straightforward process.
The innermost layer of your protection system may be a temporary corrosive protective, usually a solvent-based liquid.[1] A grease-like protective can typically be used for the core protection of movable components. These include ropes and chains and other surfaces that can flex and move. This layer’s lubricated texture allows movement without compromising the outer layers.
The next layer of protection you may use is a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor (VCI). VCI-treated paper or poly-film containers slowly and continuously release a vapor that counteracts corrosion. Regulating temperature and the corrosive elements of humidity is critical for properly maintaining equipment itself as well as your VCI products.
For protective coverings of any kind, proper pre-cleaning will extend the life of your equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as the pre-application process differs depending on the equipment you’re working with.
With each of these layers serving such dramatically different purposes, it may be surprising to learn that all three can be applied simultaneously in a single protective cover provided by Transhield. All three of the major layers are formed into a patented, single cover that can be custom-fit for most equipment, regardless of size or special shape.
How exactly do Transhield covers do the work of three different protective coverings? Within a wide selection of protective applications, Transhield’s protective fabric has three layers that reduce corrosion by up to 95%.[2] The innermost layer is soft-nonwoven, the middle layer is a hot melt adhesive with an optional VCI additive, and the outer layer is a durable polyethylene film. This film shrinks to the shape and contours of your equipment while the nonwoven pulls even more moisture away. For brief or extended downtimes as well as travel, Transhield fabrics are ready to transport once applied. And what’s more, the all-in-one protective fabric eliminates the need for cleaning, meaning huge time savings compared to conventional methods. With an estimated $276 billion in corrosion-related loss in the U.S. every year [3], be sure to make a plan for storing your equipment with quality coatings from Transhield.
To learn more just visit, https://transhield-usa.com/technologies/ today!
[1] https://www.npl.co.uk/getattachment/research/electrochemistry/corrosion-guides/Temporary-Corrosion-Protection-GPG7.pdf [2] https://transhield-usa.com/technologies/ [3] http://impact.nace.org/documents/ccsupp.pdf