Developed by Futura Coatings of St. Louis, this system increases the energy efficiency of the manufacturing facility.

After preparing the tank with a urethane primer, it is then coated with spray polyurethane foam (SPF) — providing the tank with a blanket of insulation.

"The SPF provides superior insulation and allows the tanks to maintain products such as anhydrous ammonia (NH3) at a constant 30°F or wines at a consistently perfect temperature," explained Bruce Schenke, technical/applications manager for BASF.

"Without the insulation, the temperature of the materials inside the tank will vary greatly," he added.

The second step in the insulation system is to coat the foam on the tanks with Elasto-Bond 801. This is a two-component, 1-to-1 mix ratio, spray-applied butyl rubber elastomer that prevents vapor drive from affecting the quality of the anhydrous ammonia. This product is listed as fire retardant and can be applied in high build.

The final step is to spray Futura-Thane 5000 (aromatic) and Futura-Thane 5650 (aliphatic) as the topcoats. The latter is a two-component, fire retardant urethane that exhibits long term color retention.

The polyurethane provides the tanks with an aesthetically appealing exterior finish. It also provides the tough, weather-resistant layer necessary to protect the underlying spray foam insulation.

For further information, contact Futura Coatings at 314-521-4100.