We're in the midst of incredible change and conflict. Today we watch opposing ideology and strategy compete for control and superiority on an epic scale. I'm of course talking about football. We're at the peak of college and professional football excitement with each game holding huge implications for determining who will be the last team standing. The spirit of competition can be infectious, so the SilcoTek® Team decided to pit 2 of contenders against each other to determine who's the best. You know the story, it's a Batman vs. Superman sort of thing. So let's put these 2 inert coating superstars head-to-head and find out who's the best!
The Competition
Let's compare the coating offense, defense, and special teams of 2 top coatings and find out which one takes the trophy.
Offense
Which coating is the most inert?
For overall inertness, SilcoNert® takes the lead. That coating has the best all around inertness for a wide range of applications. If you need part-per-billion sensitivity and reliability, SilcoNert® is the hands down winner. Dursan® is more than adequate for part-per-million sensitivity for a variety of compounds, but SilcoNert® holds the lead in both sensitivity and range of applications. Here are the comparative power rankings:
| |
Sulfur & H2S |
Ammonia |
VOC's |
Mercury |
NOx |
| SilcoNert® |
Number 1 in polls |
Trophy winner |
Top of Podium |
Crosses the Tape First |
League Leader |
| Dursan® |
Slightly less inert, a top contender |
Gets a 2nd place |
On the Podium |
In the pack |
In the pack |
Offense matchup: Advantage SilcoNert®
Defense
Which coating is the most corrosion resistant, hydrophobic and durable?
Dursan® comes on strong here with excellent acid and good base resistance. In fact, the coating compares favorably to much more expensive super alloys. Hydrochloric acid immersion tests (below) show Dursan is the hands down winner.
Which coating is the most hydrophobic?
Dursan gets the nod here, crushing SilcoNert easily. Water droplet contact angle tests demonstrate Dursan's superior water repelling capability.
Durability, who can stay on the field longer?
Durability is also a win for Dursan®, improving both wear resistance and surface lubricity of stainless steel; while SilcoNert® offers comparable wear resistance to stainless.
The combination of wear resistance and lubricity make Dursan® hard to beat and even more difficult to grab onto for a clean tackle (sorry about all the football references, I know it's getting out of hand...)
Defense matchup: Advantage Dursan®.
Special Teams
In a close game, it's the special team play that leads to victory. Which coating will come out on top?
High/low temperature capability:
Tie: Both Dursan® and SilcoNert® have the same maximum temperature, 450c, and are both cryogenic capable.
Flexibility:
Tie: Both Dursan® and SilcoNert® can flex with the surface and bond to flowpaths like mud on a uniform.
Pressure:
Tie: They can take all the pressure the playoffs can bring. Our coatings are not pressure dependent. The designed pressure rating of the underlying surface determines the pressure rating.
Special teams matchup: Tie!
This is going to be a tough game to call! If Dursan® gets into the open field where durability is valued over sensitivity, like in oil and gas well sampling or in petrochemical operations, it could be a long day for SilcoNert. But if the game is played in a domed stadium like in an analytical lab where ultimate inertness is critical, SilcoNert® will take the trophy.
I guess this championship will come down to customer application and field conditions. As always the SilcoTek coaching staff (our technical service team) is here to help you make the best coating selection for your application to bring you the win. As they say in sports, it is what it is.....
