Defendacoat Polyurethane Systems - Blast Mitigation and Anti-Spalling Protective Coatings

Defendacoat Polyurethane Systems are the UK distributor for Rhino Linings, a leading developer for spray-on polyurethane coatings. Rhino Linings products have recently undergone rigorous testing for use in defence applications, and have subsequently proven their blast mitigation and anti-spalling capabilities.

Blast mitigation and anti-spalling capabilities

In February 2005 Rhino Linings participated in a blast mitigation test conducted by the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Centre (EMRTC) in New Mexico, USA. The test simulated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) equivalent in power to 100kg of TNT, detonating within 10m of a structure, with a view to identifying the blast mitigation performance of commercial protective coating products.

Of the multiple products tested, Rhino Linings’ RhinoArmor polyurethane lining showed outstanding results. The test concluded that RhinoArmor not only protected against structural damage, but also prevented subsequent spalling – the showering of secondary debris and fragments resulting from a blast which is responsible for the majority of casualties in a bomb attack.

Protective coatings for walls

The testing involved a reaction structure specifically designed to test both structural (multi-story gravity-load bearing) and non-structural (in-fill) walls varying in composition (e.g., masonry, steel stud, etc.). The reaction structure had two identical 8in thick CMU walls (8ft x 11ft), containing no steel reinforcement or concrete grout; therefore, the walls were hollow. One unlined wall was designated as the control wall, while the other was lined with RhinoArmor protective coating. Application time was minimal for the RhinoArmor-lined wall - within three hours the application was complete and the coating had set and cured.

Military and civilian protective coating applications

EMRTC test results indicate that multiple protective applications exist in both military and civilian environments for RhinoArmor. These applications may include the protection of:

• Government buildings and structures
• Command centres, barracks and other tactical assets
• Active target installations such as petroleum storage depots and refinery operations
• Strategic diplomatic assets, such as embassies and consulates

The test results showed that RhinoArmor is an effective blast mitigation solution for external and infrastructure components for newly-constructed and in-service (temporary barrier, storage tanks, temp-mobile) buildings where Inhabitant protection is of primary concern. RhinoArmor can and will save lives!