Abrasion, erosion and corrosion protection for rotating equipment
Typical failure mechanisms in industrial fans and blowers
- Leading-edge particle erosion caused by dust and bulk material transport
- Housing abrasion due to recirculation of solids in the flow channel
- Rotor imbalance resulting from asymmetric wear on impeller blades
- Efficiency loss caused by increasing surface roughness
- Vibration and bearing damage due to progressive material loss
Application limits
- Maximum recommended tip speed: 70 m/s (230 ft/s)
- Continuous operating temperatures above 70 °C require evaluation
- Explosive (ATEX) environments require case-by-case approval
- Severely flexible or unstable substrates are not suitable
Elastomeric coatings absorb and dissipate impact energy rather than reflecting it, giving them superior resistance to particle erosion and fatigue compared with rigid epoxy-ceramic systems.
High-velocity air streams carrying dust, sand, fibres or bulk particles form an extremely abrasive mixture. Severe wear occurs particularly at leading edges, blade tips and housings where particle impact velocity is highest.
This spray technology is also proven on hydropower turbines and pump impellers – see our hydroelectric coatings and impeller protection pages for application examples.
Material loss results in imbalance, efficiency reduction and increasing vibration levels – often leading to premature bearing failure or costly shutdowns. Conventional hard coatings or metallic armouring frequently fail due to brittleness, excessive weight or complex blade geometries.
MetaLine elastomeric coatings provide a lightweight, energy-absorbing protective layer. Instead of deflecting impact energy, the rubber-like surface absorbs it and stabilizes rotor operation while maintaining aerodynamic performance.
Typical components and applications
- Fan impellers and rotors
- Fan housings and casings
- Industrial ventilators and exhaust fans
- Pneumatic conveying blowers
- Dust transport and bulk material handling systems
- Mining and cement ventilation equipment
- Corrosion-exposed exhaust air systems
- High-wear flow channels and ducting
