Covestro to demonstrate corrosion expertise and support of STEM education at Corrosion 2016

For decades, Covestro has been a leader in offering raw materials and services for corrosion protection coatings. At CORROSION 2016 presented by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), Covestro will share its expertise in corrosion technology and promote careers in corrosion.

Ahren Olson, market manager, Corrosion Protection, Coatings, Adhesives & Specialties, Covestro LLC and Mark Hudson, project development manager, Bridge & Highway, Sherwin-Williams, will present "Two-coat polyaspartic urethane coatings protect Virginia steel bridge structures for over a decade” at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as part of the NACE Transportation Forum. They will discuss the results of a study using two-coat polyaspartic coatings for field repainting of more than 100 steel bridges in Virginia.

The study compares the field performance of polyaspartic urethane two-coat systems and moisture-cure urethane three-coat systems on steel bridges in western Virginia after 10 years of service. The research showed that polyaspartic urethane two-coat coating systems offered corrosion protection equivalent to conventional three-coat systems. With performance being equal, polyaspartic urethane two-coat systems provide significant value to bridge owners with cost reduction in painting operations, accelerated painting schedules and milder traffic congestion. Polyaspartic urethane two-coat systems also exhibit excellent edge protection in areas where corrosion is likely to start. Findings have shown that the application of polyaspartic urethane two-coat systems can save Departments of Transportation up to 20 percent on field repainting costs.

At CORROSION 2016, Covestro is also demonstrating its long-standing commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. The company is sponsoring a day-long mini-camp, hosted by the NACE Foundation, for local high school students. On Wednesday, March 9, students will participate in hands-on corrosion-related activities, learn about the basic scientific principles of corrosion and have the opportunity to discover career opportunities in this field.