Fusion Bonded Epoxy

Fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) is widely specified by waterworks engineers for pipe and pumps in contact with potable water, as well as for piping systems in oil fields. The chief advantages of FBE are its extremely low permeability rate and its low coefficient of friction. The heat cure causes extremely tight molecular cross linking of the epoxy, thus creating a barrier that resists permeation by both hot and cold liquids. As the epoxy powder is curing, it evens itself out to create a very smooth finish that significantly increase flow rate through pipe and pumps.

Fusion bonded epoxy is a type of powder coating that is electro-statically applied to hot steel. The negatively charged epoxy powder is sprayed and attracted to the positively charged hot steel. Over the past fifteen years Goodwest has developed unique, non-standard powder coating equipment to apply fusion bonded epoxy to steel pieces that are much larger than a typical powder coating shop would handle. The most commonly specified fusion bonded epoxy is 3M Scotchkote but Goodwest also applies FBE manufactured by Valspar and Dupont.

An additional advantage of a fusion bonded epoxy like ScotchKote is that it contains no solvents and is therefore NSF-61 certified for contact with potable water. The total lack of solvents means no volatile organic contents (VOC's) leak into the air during application, thus making it an environmentally friendly lining option. The lack of solvents also makes FBE an easy choice for potable water pipe infrastructure, as no solvents or other chemicals can leach out into the water stream. Goodwest is committed to helping create a safe long-lasting infrastructure, and fusion bonded epoxy plays an important role in that mission.