Long-term study Danube ferry Ottensheim – status quo after 13,000 hours

  

Picture 1+2: Test panel not cleaned  

  

Picture 3+4: Test panel cleaned  

Picture 5: The test panel edge averted from the current shows damage to the powder coating.  

Picture 6: The test panel edge facing the current shows abrasion of the powder coating.  

ENVIRAL® Austria

ENVIRAL® has been conducting a long-term study at the Danube ferry Ottensheim since September 2012. We reported here a number of times on the respective status quo of the experiment.

Recently, in August 2014, the powder coated test panel installed at the hull of the ferry was inspected. For this purpose it has been exposed to water for 13,000 hours. In order to do so, the heavily soiled panel was first cleaned with water and a sponge (pictures 1 – 4). The damage to one of the longitudinal edges of the test panel that was now visible (see picture 5) had been caused by flotsam – i.e. wood, ice, mud etc. The abrasion of the powder coating on the other edge of the test panel (see picture 6) can probably be ascribed to this year’s flooding of the Danube: the sludge carried along acts like a fine sandblasting on the coated surface. These damages must be viewed critically, but it must be noted that no infiltration of the powder coating can be determined on the area originating from the damaged edges.

The test will be continued for another 1,000 hours at this point in time, we will keep you informed about the results.