POLYUREA SILO
SEALING AND
WATERPROOFING
POLYUREA SILO SEALING
AND
WATERPROOFING
Spray Elastomer Coatings for Protecting Silos Against Water Damage and Insect Infestation
SILOS: SENTINELS
OF AGRICULTURE
Most people have never seen a silo in person, let alone worked with one, yet they’re one of the few pieces of agricultural infrastructure that are known to just about everyone. Part of the reason is because of a silo’s size; they tower over surrounding structures and are often visible from miles away. But the other, more significant reason that grain silos are familiar to all of us, is because of their vital role in maintaining food security. Silos are sentinels of the agricultural industry, protecting hard-earned and always precious food and energy resources. However, like any soldier, silos need to be equipped with the right protective gear if they are to be able to provide protection themselves, and there are two main enemy combatants to worry about: water and insects. Water and moisture can damage both the stored grain as well as the silo itself, spoiling grain and corroding the silo. Insects instead target solely the grain, consuming the supply, contaminating it with excrement, and exacerbating concerns about moisture. Silos must therefore be thoroughly sealed and waterproofed to maintain a controlled, low-moisture interior free of pests. Both can be accomplished simultaneously using polyurea protective coatings, and there’s no better partner than ArmorThane.
POLYUREA GRAIN GUARDIANS
If silos are the agricultural industry’s sentinels, then polyurea is its grain guardian. Silos, strong and purpose-built as they are, will fail to keep grain safe without periodic repairs and improvements, and polyurea is among the most effective as well as the most efficient means of killing two birds with one stone. It’s spray applied using high-pressure equipment, precisely ejecting two precursor materials that combine and react on a substrate’s surface to form a continuous, watertight elastomeric barrier. This barrier cures faster than almost every other commercially available protective paint or coating, and it boasts a safer health and sustainability profile too. Most importantly, polyurea coatings are highly durable and resistant to the most common and damaging classes of chemicals, including strong acids, organic solvents, and powerful oxidizers. With one technology silos can be kept dry and impenetrable, becoming the food fortresses we’ve all come to know and rely on.
HOW TO SEAL AND WATERPROOF A SILO WITH POLYUREA
The first step in the silo sealing and waterproofing process, like all applications of polyurea coatings, is to prepare the silo’s surfaces for a high-quality installation. This means cleaning and modifying the substrate so it’s free from obstructing debris and possesses the right mechanical profile for strong adhesion. Most silos are made from metal or concrete, which each have their own distinct surface preparation procedures, but in either case, surface preparation will begin with the removal of preexisting coatings if they are observed to have signs of damage or decay. Coating removal is typically achieved using a combination of high-pressure washing and mechanical abrading, and in some rare cases, other techniques must also be employed to ensure the surface is free and clear. Once the surface is prepared, the next step is to prime the substrate, which is a process that is all but identical to the main coating layers, except the spray-on coating is a specialized primer designed to adhere the system more strongly to the silo. Subsequently two separate layers of polyurea are then applied, and if there’s a need for better grip or traction, aggregate materials can be incorporated before the coatings have finished curing. The final result is a single system working together to absorb multi-source chemical and mechanical stress and keep silos dry as a bone and unburdened by the world of insects.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The best material for silo sealing isn’t a paint, but an elastomeric protective coating called polyurea. Paints are prone to cracking and peeling and impart little to no mechanical or chemical durability, but polyurea forms a continuous, watertight film that seals cracks and gaps while also strengthening surfaces against broad-scope surface hazards.
Sealing a silo is to fill the space in gaps or cracks to create a watertight container. Silos can be sealed using many different technologies, which are typically a type of high-performance paint or coating. A leading example is polyurea, an elastomeric protective coating that can be spray applied cost-effectively and without concerns for health and safety.
The purpose of a grain silo is to store and protect very large quantities of vital food and energy resources, primarily by keeping them dry. If water and moisture are able to infiltrate a silo, mold and bacteria are likely to grow and proliferate, ultimately spoiling grain. Waterproofing is thus an essential part of silo construction and maintenance.
SAFER SILOS FOR A
SAFER FOOD SUPPLY
The criticality of silos for the safety and stability of the world’s food supply cannot be understated. Consequently, protecting silos is of the utmost importance, as all it takes is a small opening, or a minor fracture, and nature can wreak havoc on this irreplaceable commodity. So if you’re committed to protecting our world by safeguarding our food supply, then ArmorThane is your perfect partner. We’ve spent over 35 years mastering our craft to protect and preserve some of the world’s most important resources, not least, food and energy supplies. We possess all of the experience, high-quality formulations, cutting-edge equipment, and global reach to tackle any silo sealing and waterproofing project. To learn more or get started you can give us a call or fill out our contact form – let’s protect our world together, one silo at a time!
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ArmorThane has built a strong reputation over the past 30 years for producing high-quality, durable protective coatings.
Phone Number
Tel: 417.831.5090
Email Us
moreinfo@armorthane.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TYLER GLECKLER
I am a chemist with a specialization in nanotechnology and applied materials chemistry. My work has focused on the characterization of optoelectronic materials, namely including semiconductor nanocrystals.
