| A common practice in water tank repair and | | | | MCU coatings are suitable for damp surfaces |
| maintenance used to involve draining the tank's content | | | | because, like all urethane coatings, it contains |
| before any coating job can be conducted, because | | | | foundational isocyanate groups of atoms that are |
| the presence of moisture condensation often | | | | reactive to hydrogen-based compounds. In water tank |
| interfered with the coating that subsequently led to | | | | coating applications, this reactive hydrogen compound |
| tank coating failure. | | | | is found in water condensation. |
| But draining water tanks can be a costly exercise | | | | In some tank coating systems, the inclusion of a primer |
| because facilities may not often have a secondary | | | | or intermediate coat mixture of micaceous iron oxide |
| storage container sufficient to hold content when the | | | | (MIO) and aluminum pigments increases the chances |
| primary tank is down for painting maintenance. | | | | of a successful application, because MIO-aluminum |
| Furthermore, the amount of time needed for the paint | | | | overlaps to form a shield that bars moisture and |
| job offers some risk to the facility, particularly when | | | | corrosive elements to damage the surface. |
| the water tank serves as fire protection or when it | | | | To remove out-gassing that may occur from large |
| holds crucial drinking water. | | | | amount of surface moisture during MCU tank coating |
| And yet painting jobs for these water tanks are also | | | | application, a simple scraping of pinhole-sized surface |
| important to keep them in good condition and for | | | | damages can be done. MCU coatings ideally cure at |
| protection and repair of corrosion, abrasion and other | | | | above 35 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. A slower |
| damages incurred through the years. | | | | curing reaction is expected at lowered temperatures |
| MCU Coating for In-Service Painting | | | | although application is still possible to as low as 20 |
| Until recently, water tank exterior painting was indeed | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. |
| a problem, but with the technological breakthrough that | | | | Water Tank In-Service Painting |
| produced moisture-cured urethane (MCU) coating, | | | | The single-component MCU coatings eliminate the |
| painting water tanks in-service has addressed the | | | | need for tank draining during application. For |
| problem effectively. | | | | refurbishing or repairing water tank exteriors, MCU |
| MCU tank coating products are quick-drying and easy | | | | provides enduring protection and aesthetic |
| to apply. They are more flexible and longer-lasting than | | | | reinstatement to tanks. |
| standard tank coatings because of their tolerance to | | | | Applying MCU tank coating require surface preparation |
| more varied application conditions, abrasion-resistance, | | | | to remove chalking, rust and any loose coatings. An |
| and imperviousness to wind-blown dust, soil specks | | | | MCU primer is then applied following manufacturer's |
| and other damage-causing impacts. | | | | thickness specifications. A MIO-aluminum coat is then |
| Such is the effectiveness of MCU tank coating | | | | applied on rusted or damaged areas, topped off with |
| systems in in-service water tank painting jobs that the | | | | another MCU coating for color restoration. |
| American Water Works Association (AWWA) | | | | MCU coatings are used by contractors because their |
| formally recognized the benefits of using MCU through | | | | single-component system provides ease of application, |
| the AWWA D102-03 Industry Standard as OCS | | | | allowing contractors to complete the job faster with |
| (Outside Coating System) 2. | | | | tolerable maintenance down-time. |
| How MCU Coatings Work | | | | |