Bridges with "wings" protected by International

Citation

(2002), "Bridges with "wings" protected by International", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 49 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2002.12849cad.011

Bridges with "wings" protected by International

Bridges with "wings" protected by International

Keywords: Coatings, Corrosion resistance, Bridges

A striking new bridge in the north of England is the first to be coated by International Protective Coatings' new finish, Interfine 979.

The £495,000 Wynyard Cycle Bridge in County Durham is a cable-stayed bridge, which spans the busy A689 dual carriageway near Sedgefield. It was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair in September 2001. It features bright green, yellow and orange undulating sections in the shape of birds' wings radiating from either side, contrasting with the deep blue of the A-frame mast. Wings and mast are illuminated at night.

The unusual design concept was produced by Durham County Council working with internationally renowned London-based artist Peter Fink. It was refined by Nusteel Structures of Hythe, Kent, who were appointed by main contractors Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd to fabricate and erect the steel bridge.

To ensure that the bright gloss finish of the distinctive colour scheme on the wings is retained and protected long-term, Nusteel selected Interfine 979, IPC's latest polysiloxane-based finish coat, applied over Interzinc 52HS, a zinc-rich epoxy primer.

According to International its Interfine 979 achieves a finish with up to four times the durability of standard polyurethanes using fewer coats.

Polysiloxanes, a product of inorganic polymer technology, are comparative newcomers to the heavy duty coatings industry. When used as part of the correct anti-corrosive system, polysiloxane coatings are reported to provide the best available long-term resistance to corrosion on steel, even in the most extreme conditions.

The extreme toughness claimed of new Interfine 979 comes from its inorganic polysiloxane polymer network. To give it the additional benefits associated with organic polymers, such as flexibility, edge coverage and spray characteristics, a small quantity of organic polymer is added – in this case acrylic.

In practical terms, Interfine 979 is said to provide the mechanical properties associated with an epoxy midcoat (in a standard three-coat anti-corrosion coating system), whilst improving significantly on the cosmetic finish of a polyurethane topcoat, reportedly doing away with the need for an intermediate coat altogether.

Through IPC's Chromascan service, it can be supplied quickly in almost any colour, even in small quantities.

The main part of the structure is protected with a three-coat Highways Agency-registered system using Intercure epoxy primer, Intercure epoxy MIO and Interthane polyurethane topcoat.

International Protective Coatings worked closely with both the architects and Nusteel, who have used their products before, to specify and supply 1,500 litres of coatings. "We chose International, because we know the quality of their products and service," explained Nusteel QA manager, Simon Slinn.

The Wynyard Bridge, built on the site of the former Wynyard Station on the Old Castle Eden railway line, will help complete one of the last major pieces of the 6,500-mile National Cycle Network and will be used by walkers and horse-riders as well as cyclists. It carries the Network's Route Number One from Inverness to Dover, providing a link with the Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route and also forms part of the 5,000km International North Sea Cycle Route, which includes the UK, Scandinavia and The Netherlands.

Details available from: International Protective. Tel: +44 (0) 207 479 6000; Fax: +44 (0) 207 479 6555; E-mail: james.kavanagh@uk.akzonobel.com; Web site: www.international-pc.com