TSA: Thermal Sprayed Aluminium

Aintzane Exposito - Head of Materials Area - Vicinay Marine Innovación

Thermal Sprayed Aluminium (TSA) is aluminium based protection that has been used as a solution against corrosion in offshore industry since eighties.

In case of mooring, Vicinay applied TSA first time in chains in 2001 as a solution against corrosion in offshore mooring chains and accessories.

The application process consists of melting the aluminium at high temperature and spraying at high speed into the surface. Under these conditions the microparticles become strongly anchored to the imperfections of the substrate and seal the material, achieving a high adhesion to the surface.

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

·         TSA is applied by the arc-spray process with a spray gun.

·         The surfaces to be protected are previously blasted.

·         In vertical towers that allow access all around the links.

·         Links receive the TSA on 100% of their surface area.

·         Quality control and continuous improvement.

·         Qualification tests.

TSA DURABILITY & LONG TERM BEHAVIOUR

Vicinay Marine has evaluated TSA according to the standard ISO 12944-9:2018 for an environment of combined corrosivity category CX (offshore) and immersion category Im4 (splash and tidal zones).

For further information, please contact us.