Cladding for bridges & water locks

Bridge & Water lock equipment and challenges

Hydraulic cylinders used in bridges and water locks face specific challenges in both saltwater and freshwater environments. In saltwater, the persistent issue is corrosion, particularly at the exposed ends of hydraulic cylinder rods which are always (partially) exposed, making them prone to severe corrosion. Traditional coatings such as chrome, HVOF, and ceramic layers often fail in these applications due to the inherent porosity. Due to the lack of protection from an oil film created by the cylinder movements, the pours of traditional layers are not protected, leading to severe corrosion. If repair work must be done, the problem becomes even more severe, as thicker layers are required that are susceptible to bending and impact.

The challenges with the use of Chromium as traditional protection layer is aggravated by the requirements from large public asset owners who now stipulate that no chromium is to be used in the manufacturing process due to its environmental impact. Topclad’s laser cladding solutions address these challenges by providing a pore free, ductile, highly durable and corrosion-resistant coatings, which are particularly crucial for the segments of hydraulic rods that remain exposed.