Superior corrosion protection in the rail industry
Hexigone’s ‘smart’ corrosion inhibitor was chosen for its superior corrosion protection in harsh rail environments.
Holyhead station is a prominent railway station in Wales in the UK. Strategically located near a harbour and high street, it serves as a key transport hub, seamlessly connecting the region’s rail and maritime networks.
As a result, the Grade II-listed train station has endured persistent exposure to salty sea air, high humidity, heat from the trains and diesel fumes. This relentless environmental assault has resulted in significant corrosion of the structural steel canopies, causing progressive deterioration of the exposed steel. The extent of the damage has highlighted the need for a longer-lasting solution to preserve the station’s structural integrity and historical value.
Harsh rail environmental exposure
Rail infrastructure manager Network Rail’s current coatings manufacturer could not guarantee its product’s effectiveness due to the harsh location. As a result, its coatings failed within just 18 months significantly short of the intended 15-year maintenance cycle. This prompted the need to find an enhanced paint system that could outperform the existing specified paint system so as to:
- Maintain structural integrity
- Preserve the station’s historical features
- Reduce maintenance and repair costs.
The railway solution
The solution implemented was Hexigone‘s ‘smart’ corrosion inhibitor Intelli-ion AX1, chosen for its superior corrosion protection in harsh environments. Achieving C5-level corrosion resistance, AX1 effectively combats corrosion in highly aggressive environments, such as coastal areas, while delivering longer-lasting corrosion protection. Intelli-ion AX1 has also endured 1,440 hours in salt spray testing (ASTM B117), and offers enhanced adhesion and colour retention in both laboratory and live testing.
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Hexigone’s ‘smart’ corrosion inhibitor Intelli-ion AX1, was chosen for Holyhead station