Advances in paint stripping technology: RPR induction; a novel method for safe, fast and environmental friendly stripping of coated steel surfaces

摘要

RPR Technologies AS in Norway has developed an Induction Technology specially designed to remove coatings on steel by a controlled heat transfer to the surface. It allows a precise control of energy and depth of heat penetration so the steel is not overheated and its properties are not altered during the stripping procedure. This is achieved by using high frequency currents to secure efficient stripping with limited energy consumption. Compared with competitive abrasive methods or using high pressure water jetting, this controlled induction method produces low gas and no airborne particle emission, no contaminated water or sand emission. Importantly, it is noiseless while other technologies are noisy, and require use of hearing protection. The method uses high frequency induction heating of ferrous substrates to achieve removal of rust, bacterial films, mill scale and various coatings and paints by breaking the interfacial bonding between coating and the metal substrate. It is today widely used for paint removal on storage tanks, ships, offshore installations and steel constructions (for manual removal of rust, fire retardant, paint, epoxy, vulcanized rubber and deck anti-skid). The speed for removal of e.g. standard epoxy linings is approx. 20-25 m2/Hr on flat surfaces, cleaned to bare steel that in principal is ready for new paint after stripping. In some cases however, a quick sweep blast is needed to meet the steel surface structure requirements of the paint producers.