both for its looks and for its properties as a durable and dependable material. As with anything in construction, however, metal is not impervious to harm despite the many images and metaphors of metals being mighty and/or invincible.
One problem in particular that metal materials face is that of corrosion and rust. The riddle of how to prevent metal from corroding is one that has had people scratching their heads for some time. There are several approaches, but most are time-consuming and/or expensive. Let’s first take a closer look at the particular challenge that one faces when trying to protect metals.
This problem can happen in most environments where there is even a little moisture in the air. Corrosion happens when the atoms on the surface of the metal become oxidized. That means they are exposed to oxygen, at which point they lose electrons (among other things), and the oxygen forms an oxide with the metal, which we know commonly as rust.
Those who say that corrosion is to metal what cancer is to humans are not entirely wrong. It’s a sound analogy. Like cancer, corrosion starts in one place and then spreads, and it can render metal utterly unusable and unsavable if it’s not dealt with very quickly. The structural integrity of the metal is actually degraded, and it even begins to disintegrate. There’s no coming back from that.
A number of solutions have been used over the years, the most prominent being that of galvanizing. This is a process that’s used at the point of manufacture which involves immersing metals such as iron or steel into multiple coatings of zinc-iron alloy and zinc metal. The reaction that occurs is known as a diffusion process, and the result is a coating of equal thickness that sits perfectly perpendicular to the surface.
This coating is used to help prevent oxidation. It creates a protective barrier that stops any corrosive materials from getting to the base metal surface, whether it’s iron or steel. The zinc metal appears to sacrifice itself for the greater good of the main metal substance underneath.
There are other solutions that are used either in place of or in conjunction with galvanizing. The first one is strict control of the environment in which the metal surface is kept. The main enemy when it comes to oxidation and corrosion is moisture in the air. By controlling the amount of moisture in the air, one can also limit the amount of any possible oxidation that might take place.
This is a neat solution but obviously, there are quite a bit of limitations on it, first because it can only be done effectively indoors, and second, there’s only so much moisture that any machines can get out of the air, but some may remain. Finally, the expense of purchasing, installing, running, and maintaining such equipment is fairly high, especially when you compare this to other solutions on the table.
Another solution is to cover metals with other physical barriers that help to limit their exposure to moisture and oxygen. This is more practical than removing all the moisture from the air but also supports that technology well. It also can be applied outdoors. Besides physical coatings, we can also apply topical coatings that form a layer of protective polymer skin against the elements, or we can use another form of cathodic protection where a “sacrificial metal” acts as an anode to help control any onset of corrosion.
All of the above methods are viable and workable to a degree, but all eventually succumb to the effects of oxidation and either has to be updated, or replaced, which adds further cost and hassle to the process. RexPro is an excellent alternative that is not just easy to use and prevents corrosion, but is more durable than you could imagine and doesn’t impact the overall appearance of the metal.
RexPro has coatings specifically designed for application on metal surfaces. Once applied, it creates a positive charge that helps protect the metal against corrosion, and even reverse it. Beyond that, RexPro is absorbed deep into the many small pores and capillaries of the metal surface, which creates a penetrating and comprehensive protection that lasts for years.
A coating of RexPro does more than just create some topical surface protection that gets gradually chipped away. In essence, it sinks into the metal via its capillaries and becomes more like an integral and strengthening part of the metal structure. The penetrative seal means that moisture simply cannot get in and start working its negative magic on the metal surface.
What’s more, RexPro is an inorganic substance, which means it doesn’t feature any natural breakdown. This allows a single application of the stuff to last for years. People who have worked for years protecting their various metal surfaces from the effects of corrosion can make lives much easier for themselves as they realize a single coating of RexPro stops penetration of moisture, thus stopping oxidation from taking place, all while also offering UV protection and not impacting the natural look of the metal surface.
Topical coatings will often change (sometimes spoil) the regular color and texture of metal, but RexPro penetrates deep enough not to leave that kind of change on the surface.
RexPro can work for anyone who needs their metal surfaces protected from corrosion, but two areas of application are particularly well served by this product. The first is coastal regions where there is an elevated level of sea salt in the air. This makes the moisture and oxidizing effect of the air a lot more pernicious. Imagine winter road salt that gets onto your alloy wheels and car underside, but instead, make it airborne and you have one corrosive mixture.
RexPro can protect very effectively against these conditions, and because one application lasts so long, it really takes the sting out of maintaining that protection.
Another situation in which RexPro is superlatively effective is in HVAC systems which are more susceptible to corrosion because of their high surface area. The fight against corrosion is part of what makes HVAC systems so expensive to maintain, but with the help of RexPro and a single application lasting for years, it can reduce the overall costs and will help the equipment last longer. What’s more, it can reduce your carbon footprint. The metal being protected means the HVAC compressor can run at a more environmentally-conscious level, ultimately using less power.
Just give us a call or send us a message and one of our knowledgeable RexPro Techs will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
RexPro Sealers & Coatings offers an innovative line of coatings for a variety of substrates such as Interior Flooring, All Vinyl Surfaces (VCT), Hardscapes (pavers, concrete, and building materials), Industrial and Residential, Boats and other Marine Vessels, and Oil and Gas.
