Sandblasting or grit blasting is undoubtedly the most well-known technique for removing corrosion and old paint residue or coatings from metal structures. Unfortunately, it is not the healthiest and most ecological technique. Depainting your metal structures with induction offers a better solution. It is dust-free so a lot healthier and better for the environment. Moreover, with induction you can also remove thick paint layers like tank linings or lead, Chrome 6 and asbestos containing paint layers, something that is more difficult with other techniques. But what exactly does induction entail and what are the other advantages of this industrial process. We would like to explain it to you a little further.
Operation of stripping with induction
Induction is an efficient and ecological way to clean and remove coatings from metal structures without using grit or other abrasive media. It is a technique that works using an electromagnetic induction process that uses heat to loosen coatings and paint residues from the metal structure. The system's electrical power supply sends an alternating voltage through a coil, creating a magnetic field. In this way, the head of the coil emits a metered amount of heat that causes the paint to detach from the metal. In other words, the metal is heated, causing the adhesion of the lacquer or coating to dissolve. The metal structure remains unharmed and shows no deformations or damage. If you wish to apply a new coating to the metal surface, it is best to do some shot blasting to roughen the surface again. This allows the new coating to adhere better to the metal construction.
Because the coating and paint residue can be removed in strips and no grit is involved in the process, there is also no dust formation or paint particle release into the environment. Moreover, the coating strips can often be recycled. Induction is therefore a very ecological and efficient way to de-lacquer your metal structures.
Added value of induction
Paint stripping by induction is a technique increasingly used in the industrial sector. This is because it offers some important advantages that other techniques do not have or to a lesser extent:
Safe and not harmful to health
We cited it several times in this blog: induction is a healthier way to remove thick layers of paint or coatings from metal surfaces. It's dust-free so you don't need extensive protective clothing.
Environmentally friendly paint stripping
No blasting means no excess waste residue either. In fact, induction removes paint residue and coatings in strips that can also be recycled. In addition, induction uses a lot less fuel than blasting, reducing both energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Speed through efficiency
The efficiency of induction allows you to strip and pre-treat your metal structures for a new coating faster. You will even save up to 60% of your time, which is 5 to 15 times faster than grit blasting and ultra-high pressure water jetting or high pressure water jetting.
More positive cost picture
Because induction does not use an abrasive, but electromagnetic energy, it eliminates the cost of purchasing grit or other abrasive materials. In addition, you save substantially on your energy bill because de-lacquering with induction uses as much as 75% less energy than any other blasting technique.
Applications of induction
Induction is often used in the Infra and Oil&Gaz sectors. This is because induction is the appropriate method to remove fire-resistant coating from steel structures before applying a new coating. Or vulcanized rubber as an anti-slip coating on ship decks. In short, induction is the solution for any thick layer of paint, coating or corrosion that needs to be removed from metal surfaces.
Would you like more information about cleaning and pre-treating your steel structures? Then contact us soon! We are happy to help you further.