Powder coating successful in hydraulic engineering for the last 5 years

Fig. 1: Contaminated test panel  

Fig. 2: Cleaned test panel; the edge on the right away from the current (arrow = current direction)  

Fig. 3: Test panel cleaned, the edge on the right away from the current (arrow = flow direction)  

Ottensheim Danube Ferry long-term study- status after 44,000 hours

ENVIRAL® Austria

Here we report on the long-term experiment on Ottensheim’s Danube ferry which has been running since 08/09/2012 (see the links).

The test panel has now been in permanent contact with water for 44,000 hours or 5 years and 8 days, and was subjected to further examination at the end of January 2018. After cleaning the heavily contaminated panel (Fig. 1) it was apparent that there are four corrosion spots 2, 3, 6 and 15mm long on the edge on the side away from the current. Disbonding is also spreading out from these spots, 3x with 3mm and 1x with 7 mm into the surface, but is not yet peeling off (Fig. 2).

On the side facing the current, a 5mm spot on the lower corner is affected. The first coat is also showing through on this edge (Fig. 3). Otherwise, the result is satisfactory.

Since the Danube flooding damaged the boat, any further weathering of the test panel is unfortunately impossible. The long-term test will therefore not be continued until after the boat is repaired.