Industrial Elastomer Coatings

Rubber Coatings – a safeguard against corrosions and

abrasion
Rubber is chemically resistant to most corrosive liquids, hydrocarbon, gases, salt water, ozone and UV light,
commonly met the requirement within Industry, Shipping and Offshore. Where steel is exposed to corrosion, it can
be protected by rubber lining, which is also more cost effective due to its simplicity and robustness.

Because of its elasticity and strength, rubber can withstand wears extremely well. It provides excellent protection
for steel and other materials against sharp and abrasive particles, both when such particles are in the form of
solids and when they are in suspension.

Water treatment tanks

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What can be coated with rubber?

Gas scrubber Fire water pump casing

Steel is the structural material most lined with rubber, but new methods of adhesion make it possible to coat other
materials, too. Nonmetals such as concrete and certain plastics, may also be rubber lined. If successful results are
to be achieved, the bond between rubber and material must be a good one. This is achieved by chemical bonding
and vulcanizing.

Examples of constructions we have coated:

For general industry: For offshore industry:
• Tanks and towers • Ballast water tanks
• Vats and other vessels • De aerator-tanks
• Fans and pumps • Salt-water spools
• Pipes and fittings • J-tubes
• Stirring machinery • Riser pipes
• Components exposed • Platform legs
to abrasion

It is preferable to have the lining done at our premises in Singapore, where special facilities are available and
vulcanizing can be done in our autoclaves. Closed tanks can also be used as their own autoclaves.

However, large constructions which are too big to be vulcanized in our autoclaves can be lined and cured at site.
Special qualities of rubber have been developed for this purpose and a low-temp curing process is widely used.

Waste water filter tank

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Type of coatings and their properties
Hard Rubber
Hard rubber (Ebonite) has a density of approx. 1.3 g/cm3. Its temperature resistance ranges from -10º to +90ºC.
The thermal conductivity (K-value) is approx. 0.2 W/mºK and its thermal insulation capacity is exceptionally good.
The dielectric constant of hard rubber is approx. 1012 Ohm.cm and its electrical isolation properties are also
excellent. Its cóefficient of expansion is approx. 7.10 -5 (about 7 times that of steel). Hard rubber is usually more
resistant to chemicals corrosive substances than are other types of rubber. It is highly resistant to both acids and
alkalines and to their salts; it is also resistant to chlorine and chlorine solutions and to a lesser extent, grease, oil
and certain solvents.

Natural Rubber
Soft natural rubber is mostly used where abrasion alone or abrasion combined with corrosion is a problem.
Its chemical resistance is not quite on par with that of hard rubber, but natural rubber retains its softness in
temperatures as low as -50ºC. Because of its somewhat limited resistance to oxidation, soft natural rubber is
generally not used where temperatures in excess of +80ºC are likely to be encountered.

Chloroprene (Neoprene)
This rubber is more weather and oxidation resistant than soft rubber and will stand operating temperatures of
-30ºC to +95ºC. Its resistance to abrasion is almost as good as that of soft natural rubber, but it is more prone to
hyfrolysis in humid environments. Chloroprene rubber is highly resistant to oil and may be used with advantage in
gas purification plants. A low temp. vulcanizing quality for use at the customers site has been developed.

Nitrile Rubber
The great advantage of this type of rubber is that it is petrol and oil resistant. Its mechanical and thermal properties
are about the same as those of soft natural rubber. Approx. temp. range -30ºC to +90ºC.

Butyl Rubber
This is a rubber with excellent resistance to oxidizing chemicals. It can stand sulphuric acid of up to 80 percent by
weight and can be used in temperatures ranging from -50ºC to +100ºC.

Hypalon (chorosulphonated polyethylene)

The properties of this rubber are about the same as those of butyl rubber, but its resistance to oxidizing chemicals
is better. Approx. temp. range -40ºC to +110ºC.

E.P.D.M. Rubber
E.P.D.M. rubber is very high temp. resistant rubber and can otherwise be compared to chloroprene rubber as
regards to properties. Approx. temp. range -30ºC to +120ºC.

Rubber coated tank

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Choosing a coating
Choice of type is determined by the following factors:
• Exposure to chemicals
• Abrasion
• Operating temperature
• Cost

The principal rule is that if rubber is exposed to corrosive chemicals, it should be hard and if abrasion is the
problem it should be soft. Generally, a 4mm thick lining is sufficient to provide resistance to corrosive chemicals,
where a thicker lining is often employed if abrasive substances are likely to be encountered. For offshore,
Neoprene and E.P.D.M. are used extensively.

Sea water injection

Offshore oily water separator

Platform legs corrosion protection, antifouling

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Some fields of application Water purification
• Waste water containing a.o. dioxines from chemical
Gas cleaning plants is purified in large rubber lined filter tanks with
• The gas scrubbers in waste incinerating plants active carbon.
are lined with acid resistant rubber for corrosion
• Large storage tanks for waste acid (H2SO4) are lined
protection against the hot gas/water mix.
with special rubber. Rubber is the only material that
• Gas scrubbers in coal and oil powered plants must will resist the corrosion from these very strong waste
be corrosion protected with special rubber lining to acids.
resist the hot acidic gas.
• In order that these types of environment
improvements shall function perfectly for many years
(20-50 years). Trelleborg Singapore rubber linings
and coatings are used for corrosion protection.

– Power plants – Smelting plants – Magnesium/Aluminium

Pipes for cooling units Slipping devices industry
Condensors Valves Pipes and fittings
Fans Tanks
– Chlorine plants Pipes and fittings Mixing plants
Chlorine cells and covers Chlorine and absorption towers Reaction vessels
Brine pipelines Leaching plants Fans
Vessels for akalines Gas cleaning units
Pumps – Galvanizing plants
Anolytic tanks Etching vessels – Transport tanks
Valves Nickel and chrome baths Road transport tanks
Mercury extractors Acid vessels Railway transport tanks
Kelly filters Washing vessels Marine transport tanks

– Metallurgical industry – Mines – Offshore industry

Reaction tanks Pumps Acid storage tanks
Storage tanks Pipes and fittings Acid transport tanks
Anolyte tanks Ore-dressing plants Risers
Pipes and fittings Impellers Riser clamps
Screw conveyors Magnetic separators Saltwater spools
Impellers Tanks Oil coolers
Valves Vats De aerator tanks
Fans Fans J-tubes
Precipitation tanks Screening drums Stilling tubes
Cooling towers Ballast water tanks
– Synthetic fibre plants Insulation spools
– Sulphuric acid plants Anolyte tanks Fire-water spools
Pipes and fittings Pipes and fittings Strainer baskets
Vats Pumps Antifouling
Pumps Reaction vessels Fire protection
Transport tanks Tanks Manifolds
Gas cleaning Filter containers ESD-valves
Spinning-bath fittings
– Water purification – Shipping industry
Ion-exchange vessels – Ventilation plants Tanks
Pipes and fittings Fans Pipes and fittings
Acid and alkali tanks Pipes and fittings Gas scrubbers
Gas cleaning units Condensors

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 Scrubber, waste incineration

Oily water separator

Riser pipe

Rubber coated chimney

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Chemical resistance of rubber
A = High resistance B = Limited resistance U = No resistance RT = Room temperature

Soft
Temp. Hard Nitrile Neoprene Butyl Hypalon
Medium Cons % natural
ºC rubber rubber rubber rubber rubber
rubber

Acetaldehyde RT B U U U A/B U
Acetic acid 10 50 A B B/U B/U A/B B
30 50 A U U U B U
Conc. RT A B U U B B
Acetone RT B B U B A B
Alcohols
(Metyl, Etyl-alcohol) 50 A A B A/B A B
Ammonia liquid 80 A B B/U B/U B B/U
Ammonium hydroxide 25 RT A A U A A A
Benzene RT U U B/U U U U
Carbon tetrachloride RT U U U U U U
Chlorine dioxide 50 B U U U B/U B
Chlorine gas, dry 80 A B/U U B/U B/U B
Chlorine gas, wet 80 A/B U U U U B
Chlorine solutions (bleaches) Free Chlorine
0.1 g/l 80 A A A A A A
0.1-1 g/l 80 A A/B B A/B A/B A/B
1-10 g/l 80 A B B B B B
Saturated 50 B U U U U B/U
80 80 U U U U U U
Chlorbenzene RT U U B/U U U U
Chromic acid 5 50 A/B U U U A/B A/B
10 50 B/U U U U B A/B
30 50 U U U U U A/B
50 50 U U U U U B
Diethyl ether RT U U U B/U U B/U
(Dibutyl-) dioctyl phthalate RT A U B U B U
Fats, aliphatic and animal 80 B U A B U B
Fluosilicic acid 50 A A/B B B A A
Formaldehyde RT A B B/U B A B
Formic acid 85 RT A B/U B/U B A B
Glycerine 50 A A/B A A A A
Hydrochloric acid 10 RT A B A A A A
10 80 A B/U B/U U B A
Conc. RT A B U B B A
Conc. 80 A U U U U/A B
Hydrochloric acid/water, alternating 80 A U U U A U
Hydrofluoric acid 50 RT B B U A A/B A
50 50 A/B U U B/U B A
Hydrogen peroxide 3 RT A A/B A/B A A A
10 RT A B/U B/U B A A
10 50 B/U U U U B A/B
Isopropyl alcohol A A/B A A A A
Methyl acetate RT B U B U B U
Methylene chloride RT U U U U U U
Methyl ethyl ketone RT B U U U A U
50 B U U U A/B U

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A = High resistance B = Limited resistance U = No resistance RT = Room temperature

Soft
Temp. Hard Nitrile Neoprene Butyl Hypalon
Medium Cons % natural
ºC rubber rubber rubber rubber rubber
rubber

Monochloroacetic acid 80 RT A/B U U B/U B A/B

Nitric acid 5 RT A B/U B/U B A A
5 50 B U U U A A
10 RT A/B U U U A A
10 50 U U U U B B
40 50 U U U B B B
Nitrous gases 50 RT U U U U B B
Oils, aliphatic and animal 50 A/B U A B B/U B
Oils, minerals RT A/B U A A/B U B
Oxalic acid 30 50 A A B B A B
Petrol RT A/B U A U U B/U
Phenol 90 50 B/U U U U A B/U
Phosphoric acid 85 80 A A/B B/U A/B A B
Potassium hydroxide 5 50 A A A A A A
5 80 A A/B B/U A/B A B
70 50 A A B A A A
70 80 A A/B U A A A
Salt solutions Saturated 80 A A/B A A A A
(not chromates, bichromates and permanganates)
Sodium hydroxide 5 50 A A A A/B A A
5 80 A A/B B/U B B B
70 50 A A/B B A A A
70 80 A A/B U A A A
Sodium hypochlorite 10 g/l active chlorine
80 B B U B A/B A
100 g/l active chlorine
80 U U U B/U B B
160 g/l active chlorine
30 A/B U U B/U A/B B
Steam 100 A/B B B B A B
Sulphur dioxide (gas) dry and wet
20 vol 50 A U B/U B A B
Sulphuric acid 20 weight 80 A/B A/B U B A A
50 weight 80 A/B B U B A A
70 weight RT A B/U U B A A
70 weight 50 A/B U U U A A
80 weight 50 B/U U U U B A/B
96 weight 50 U U U U U U
Sulphurous acid 5 RT A A/B B/U B/U A A
Sulphur trioxide (gas) 50 U U U U U U
Toulene RT U U U U U U
Trichloroethylene RT U U U U U U
Turpentine RT B U A/B U U U
Water 80 A B B U B B

This table is intended as a rough guide only. If in doubt, please consult us.

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Lining at the customers’ site
Doing the job at the customers’ site must be done when:

1) The construction is too large or too heavy for our factory equipment.
2) The construction is too large for transport on land and sea.
3) Rubber coated items are joint welded at the customers’ site and the field joints must be coated.
4) Repairs to damaged coating.

When the lining or coating work must be done at the customers’ site, certain necessary measures must be
arranged by the customer.

For instance adequate place for the work and work containers, ventilation, access to electric power, compressed
air, housing for people and similar practicable measures.

These matters are agreed upon prior to start of work.

Field joining of rubber coated pipes

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Dimension of piping

The max. possible size for dimension of piping for rubber lining

A2

B
R1 B
A1

L3

E2
E1
Tee
90 Long Elbow
o
45o Long Elbow

B
B
L1 L2
L4
Reducer Straight pipe with branch

Long Elbow Reducer Straight pipe with

Size Tee
90o 45o (1) (2) branch

(B) (A) A1 E1 A2 E2 B L3 L1 L2 B L4
1B B 25 A 90 300 90 300 80 2,000 - 2,000 - -
11/4 B 32 A 95 300 95 300 85 2,000 120 2,000 - -
1 1/2 B 40 A 100 300 100 300 90 2,000 120 2,000 - -
2 B 50 A 115 500 115 500 100 5,500 130 5,500 - -
2 1/2 B 65 A 130 500 130 500 115 5,500 150 5,500 - -
3 B 80 A 150 1,000 150 1,000 125 5,500 150 5,500 - -
3 1/2 B 90 A 170 1,500 170 1,500 135 5,500 160 5,500 - -
4 B 100 A 190 1,500 190 1,500 145 5,500 160 5,500 145 1,000
5 B 125 A 195 3,000 195 3,000 165 5,500 200 5,500 165 1,000
6 B 150 A 230 3,000 230 3,000 1990 5,500 220 5,500 190 1,000
8 B 200 A 310 3,000 310 3,000 225 5,500 230 5,500 225 1,500
10 B 250 A 385 3,000 385 3,000 270 5,500 250 5,500 270 1,500
12 B 300 A 465 3,000 465 3000 310 5,500 300 5,500 310 1,500
14 B 350 A 540 3,000 540 3000 340 5,500 480 5,500 340 1,500
16 B 400 A 615 3,000 615 3,000 370 5,500 500 5,500 370 1,500
18 B 450 A 695 1,000 695 3,000 410 5,500 530 5,500 410 1,500
20 B 500 A 770 1,000 770 3,000 450 5,500 650 5,500 450 1,500
22 B 550 A 845 5,500 800 5,500 490 5,500 650 5,500 490 1,500
24 B 600 A 920 5,500 900 5,500 500 9,000 650 9,000 500 5,500
26 B 650 A 1,000 5,500 1,000 5,500 565 9,000 (900) 9,000 565 9,000
28 B 700 A 1,075 9,000 1,000 9,000 570 9,000 (900) 9,000 570 9,000
30 B 750 A 1,150 9,000 1,100 9,000 625 9,000 (900) 9,000 625 9,000
32 B 800 A 1,225 9,000 1,200 9,000 640 9,000 900 9,000 640 9,000
34 B 850 A 1,300 9,000 1,300 9,000 700 9,000 900 9,000 700 9,000
36 B 900 A 1,380 9,000 1,400 9,000 740 9,000 900 9,000 740 9,000
38 B 950 A 1,455 9,000 1,400 9,000 780 9,000 900 9,000 780 9,000
40 B 1000 A 1,530 9,000 1,500 9,000 820 9,000 900 9,000 820 9,000

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 TES-lrl01

Trelleborg Singapore Pte Ltd Certificate No. 190037

4 Jalan Pesawat, Singapore 619362

Tel: +65 6265 0955 Fax: +65 6265 9853
Email: hercules@trelleborg.com
www.trelleborg.com/hercules Certificate No. 403030
www.trelleborg.com