TPT July 2009

C oating P ickling & G alvanizing T echnology

Carbide coating solves slippage problems

Michigan Seamless Tube, for over 80 years the producer of the broadest range carbon and alloy seamless cold drawn pipe and tube in US industry, has added a new UV coating line to its South Lyon facility, offering 100% solid UV coatings with increased corrosion resistance and enhanced product appearance. Using a unique vacuum system for achieving consistent film thickness all An application of Carbinite Metal Coatings’ Carbinite on a jawset provided one customer with a secure grip for tube end-forming operations, without leaving unsightly tooling marks. An application on hydro-testing clamps helped another customer ensure that end caps held tight during intensive water pressure testing. If there is slippage during manufacturing, an application of Carbinite is said to reduce it. Carbinite is a carbide coating electrofused to a base metal to add texture. The coating creates many small peaks that penetrate the workpiece surface upon clamping. These peaks increase the coefficient of friction between the clamping surface and the workpiece in an action referred to as surface micro-keying. This allows for a strong, solid grip during fabrication. The electrofusion application method provides a strong bond because the carbide is fused into the base metal, not just applied onto it as in spray welds. Bulk heating is not required, so tool temper and heat treat are

not affected. If needed, it can be applied and reapplied without stripping away existing layers. The coating is available in several grades, leaving various textures ranging from 40 to 320 emery grit. It can be applied to all steels including stainless, as well as to certain

 Hydro testing clamp with Carbinite coating

around the tubular product, MSTube is now able to provide its customers in distribution, transportation, energy, heavy equipment and original equipment manufacturers with an added six months or more of corrosion resistance. The new coating line has been built using a system installed by UK coating equip- ment manufacturer Universal Finishing Systems. aluminium alloys such as 6061 and 7075. In addition to improving tool performance, Carbinite will increase surface hardness up to 70cc, resulting in an extended tool life. A coating can allow clamping pressure to be reduced, thereby decreasing tube

crushing or deformity. The extra gripping strength provided by a Carbinite coating is designed to improve end-forming, tube bending, flaring and swaging operations. Carbinite Metal Coatings – USA Fax : +1 724 586 1144

Email : andy@carbinite.com Website : www.carbinite.com

Universal gloss on new Michigan Seamless Tube line

combined an Ultra-Vac vacuum coating machine together with an 8-lamp Supa-Cure UV curing system. With coating thickness controlled by consistent vacuum pressure and incoming air speed, the system gives an immediate cured finish all round the tube and 100% transfer efficiency, minimising costs by recycling all the coating. MSTube is now able to provide 100% solid UV coating to add to services, which includes supplying a full line of mechanical and pressure products to ASTM ASME and API including heat exchanger, condenser, boiler, IPS pressure pipe, and oil production tubes. “ The new line was up and running on schedule, ” said MSTube’s engineering & maintenance manager David T Wellhofer. “ And Universal was very helpful in the start up and training of our personnel. ” Universal Finishing Systems – UK Fax : +44 1244 288102 Email : info@universalfinishing.co.uk Website : www.universalfinishing.com

 Universal system at MSTube

Universal has manufactured int- egrated modular p r e - t r e a t me n t , coating and drying systems for the world tube industry for 15 years, with exportsaccounting for up to 80% of sales. Tasked with the demand of applying a black-pigmented high gloss UV coating, Universal

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