LUMIFLON® based coatings maintain excellent appearances for many years and also protect the substrates of structures
Though we usually cross bridges without much attention, there are bridges of various sizes throughout the world. Of these bridges, gigantic bridges that are placed in a severe environment like the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge (as of October 2006), it is necessary to use a coating that can protect the substrate of the bridge for a long time. Lumiflon-based coatings can be applied for these kinds of applications.
These bridges require coatings that can protect the substrate steel and reduce the re-coating frequency as much as possible
Ordinary bridges are exposed to the sun, wind, and rain directly, which is a severe environment. Bridges that
span over the sea like the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge are also damaged by seawater. Because of this, it is essential
to apply highly durable coatings, not only to keep its excellent appearance but also to protect bridge structures
from salt corrosion.
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is 3,911 meters long and has a tower with a height of 300 meters above
the sea. It is obvious that it is not easy to repaint the bridge. LUMIFLON® contributes to reducing the life-cycle
maintenance and repairs with its high weatherability.
LUMIFLON® has been recognized as a high performance resin, and has been used in more than 150,000 cases
AGC’s fluoropolymer resin "LUMIFLON®" for the use of coating was adopted for the Akashi-Kaikyo
Bridge. A coated film with "LUMIFLON®" used as a material is durable and lasts several times longer
(varies under different environmental conditions) in comparison with coated films with acrylic resins or polyurethane
resins used as materials. Therefore, the frequency of costly recoating work can be reduced, and recoating costs
can be reduced substantially. In general, fluoropolymer resin coatings are costly in comparison with other resin
coatings, but they are very advantageous in terms of long-range total costs. Fluoropolymer resin coatings are
also advantageous because they impose few environmental burdens caused by volatile solvents that are used for
each recoating, and generate little waste.
Since its release in 1982, "LUMIFLON®" has been applied
to more than 150,000 cases. LUMIFLON® is the first solvent-soluble fluoropolymer for coatings that can be
cured at room temperature, enabling coatings to be applied in the field. LUMIFLON® can be applied to wide
range of applications, such as bridges, architectural structures, aircraft, automobiles ,and many others. Our
lineup includes organic-solvent-free water-based products, and products for powder coatings.
LUMIFLON® is also applied to the exteriors of large buildings and aircrafts.
Fluoropolymer resin coating has become the standard for bridges, which require years of durability
Thanks to their durability and weatherability, fluoropolymer coatings help reduce life-cycle maintenance
costs, while remaining an environmentally conscious choice. For those reasons, they have become the standard for
both initial coating and recoating. The "Handbook for Coatings and Anticorrosion for Steel Road Bridges," which
specifies the design, construction and maintenance of bridges in Japan, was revised at the end of 2005. This latest
version indicates fluoropolymer-based coatings as the standard for topcoats on bridges.
For five years since 1985, Asahi
Glass tested the weather resistance of LUMIFLON coatings for bridges in various parts of the country as joint research
with government offices. After that, Asahi Glass has also been implementing follow-up surveys, and it has been
proven that the original appearances of the bridges have been maintained. AGC’s LUMIFLON® has been continuously
evolving based on these testing data, long-accumulated achievements and expertise of various kinds, and industry-leading
fluoropolymer technology. LUMIFLON® may even be in use on buildings in your neighborhood.
