Built over 30 months by Fairbrother at a cost of $45.5 million, the facility required new steel components that were fabricated, blasted, and coated in the factory by Crisp Bros & Haywards.
Custom specifications to protect and enhance new steel
With a long-standing relationship with both the builder and the steel fabricator, Dulux® Protective Coatings Steve Kraljevic was approached to contribute coatings expertise. He recommended the following products and systems:
New internal concealed steel
• Dulux® Zincanode® 402 @ 75-microns (µm) DFT.
New exterior exposed steel
• First coat: Dulux® Zincanode® 402 @ 75-microns (µm) DFT.
• Intermediate coat: Dulux® Duremax® GPE MIO with Quickturn @ 175-microns (µm) DFT. This versatile two pack epoxy has been locally developed to provide steel with barrier protection against corrosion. “Adding Quickturn to the Duremax GPE shortened the curing time,” Steve explains. “Drying times can be a challenge here in Tasmania, so I often specify Quickturn or Cold Cure Hardeners, especially for applications scheduled from the end of April to the start of October.”
• Topcoat: Dulux® Weathermax® HBR MIO in Mid Grey @ 75-microns (µm) DFT. This high build recoatable polyurethane has micaceous iron oxide pigment particles that interlock in the film to form a barrier against moisture ingress. The finish will resist abrasion and retains gloss and colour even with extreme UV exposure.
The MIO Product Spotlight explains this technology in more detail.
New internal exposed steel
• First coat: Dulux® Zincanode® 402 @ 75-microns (µm) DFT.
• Topcoat: Dulux® Luxathane® MPX @ 50-microns (µm) DFT. This two-component, acrylic polyurethane built a smooth matt finish to complement the modern interior architecture.
Dulux® Zincanode® 402 for excellent corrosion protection
The coatings hero of this project, this economical, zinc rich, two pack epoxy was specified on all steel components, both concealed and exposed, to build a hard, abrasion-resistant coating. The finely divided zinc metal provides excellent galvanic corrosion protection and is particularly suitable for overcoating with heavy duty finishes.
Image courtesy of Adam Gibson.
