Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are crucial, yet constantly under attack. Concrete tanks, clarifiers, and secondary containment areas are relentlessly assaulted by two primary threats:
Chemical Corrosion: Acids, caustic chemicals, and disinfection byproducts (like chlorine and ozone) leach minerals from the concrete, leading to weakening and erosion.
Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC): In wastewater, anaerobic bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide H₂S gas, which forms sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) when it condenses on tank walls above the water line. This sulfuric acid rapidly eats away the concrete matrix, causing catastrophic failure and costly leaks.
Without a robust, chemically-resistant lining system, concrete assets in WTPs have a significantly shortened lifespan, leading to enormous maintenance costs and potential environmental liabilities from leakage.
Many assets rely on general coatings that are simply not engineered for the unique, severe conditions of WTPs. When concrete linings fail, the cause is usually one of two issues:
Concrete is a porous, variable, and often damp substrate.1 If the surface isn’t properly prepared and primed, moisture and chemicals work their way under the coating, causing it to delaminate (peel off) in large sheets. In highly corrosive environments, the primer is as important as the membrane.
Inadequate linings, such as some thin-film epoxies or conventional paints, may resist water but remain permeable to gases (H₂S) and corrosive ions. Once the corrosive elements penetrate the coating, they attack the concrete substrate underneath, leading to a breakdown that eventually forces the lining off.
Successfully lining a WTP requires a multi-layer system that addresses both adhesion (via priming) and long-term chemical resistance (via the final coating).
Liquimix has engineered a robust system specifically for the severe demands of WTP environments:
These are specialized moisture-tolerant primers designed to prepare the concrete and lock down the substrate.
Civilox LV-100 (Low Viscosity): Used for sealing concrete with minor porosity and hairline cracking, ensuring maximum penetration and bonding to densify the surface before the lining is applied.
Civilox HB-200 (High Build): Used for filling small voids and blowholes, and to build a thicker protective layer, especially on rough or deteriorated concrete.
By establishing this chemically-resistant, high-adhesion base layer, you ensure the polyurea lining will never lose its grip.
Once the substrate is primed, the Tufflon Polyurea system provides the seamless, impenetrable membrane required for long-term immersion and chemical resistance.
Tufflon P80 is your specialised, solvent-free polyurea lining for internal surfaces (tanks, clarifiers, basins) exposed to constant immersion and high chemical risk.
100% Solids: Creates a thick, seamless, monolithic membrane with zero permeability. No corrosive gas or liquid can penetrate it.
High Chemical Resistance: Specifically formulated to resist long-term exposure to common WTP/WWTP chemicals and, critically, sulfuric acid created by MIC. (In some cases, a Novalac epoxy top coat is specified to provide additional protection.).
Flexibility & Crack Bridging: Its superior elongation allows it to bridge existing and future minor concrete cracks, maintaining the watertight seal where rigid epoxies would crack and leak.
Tufflon P90 is the ideal system for external applications like the exterior of tanks, secondary containment walls, or roofs.
Exceptional Durability: Provides superior protection against physical damage and abrasion.
UV and Weather Resistant: Engineered to withstand prolonged exposure to sun, rain, and environmental stress without degrading prematurely or losing integrity. Tufflon P90 does change colour under continues UV exposure but does not degrade as quickly as most other aromatic systems.
Rapid Application: Applied via specialised plural-component spray equipment, minimising overall project time and cost.
| Feature | Conventional Coatings (e.g., General Epoxies) | Liquimix Tufflon Polyurea System |
| Permeability | Higher Permeability to H₂S gas and chemicals. | Very low Permeability; Fully Monolithic Membrane. |
| Crack Bridging | Brittle; Cracks with substrate movement. | High Elongation; Bridges Existing and Future Cracks. |
| Return to Service | Often 3-7 days for full chemical cure. | Cures in seconds; back in service much faster. |
| Corrosion Defense | Single-layer defense, susceptible to pinholes. Lower DFT | Two-stage defense (Primer + Tufflon) for maximum adhesion and protection. High DFT (+3mm) |
Because the application methodology for the Civilox and Tufflon systems is critical and specific to the asset being lined (clarifier, holding tank, trench), detailed information is essential.
For application tools and methodology, please contact us and we will send you a full specification tailored to your project today.
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