Passive Aerosol Generator

1.3 Coatings
This technology has been developed to apply to a broad range of coatings. This section discusses the coating engineered for this technology. Additionally, this system may be used to neutralize chemical agents where the coating performance is of little interest. These applications are also discussed in terms of coatings herein.

1.3.1 Capture Coatings
The foundation of the PAG specialty coatings is the encapsulation capture coating. The capture coating is a proprietary formula, consisting of a water based polyurethane suspended in a two part organic solution. The capture coating has been formulated to be defined as a non-hazardous compound by the US Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Three additional state environmental laws were used to certify that the capture coating is a non-hazardous or a non-dangerous waste. The states used were California, Colorado and Washington. By emphasizing the use of non-hazardous compounds, Encapsulation Technologies, LLC, has a distinct advantage for waste cleanup efforts, particularly those that involve radioactive material.

The capture coating has been formulated to use water soluble, small molecular weight molecules. Additionally, no binders or fillers are used in this formula. As such, this coating can use the widest range of possible transducer frequencies.

Referring to Chapter 1, the aerosol droplet size is a function of the frequency of the transducer. The capture coating, due to its small molecular sizes, allows the use of the highest frequency transducers. This in turn creates an aerosol with a mean droplet size of 2 microns. Due to the small droplet size, the capture coating aerosol "acts like a gas" when delivered to the treatment area. The small aerosol droplet size allows the capture coating to "scrub" airborne contaminants out of air.

When the capture coating contacts a surface the organic molecules begin to coalesce and then slowly (and at the molecular level) encapsulates the contaminants. The thickness of the capture coating can be controlled by applying successive coats of the material. The capture coating is formulated to remain tacky for prolonged periods of time. The prolonged period of time the coating is tacky allows any re-suspended contaminants to become captured when it contacts the surface. The capture coating is not intended to be a long term solution with a durable finish. It is interesting to note that laboratory tests have shown that the capture coating has retained and encapsulated contaminants for periods longer than 7 months.

The capture coating can be reapplied at some frequency to maintain it's surface consistency, covered with a more durable coating material, applied over ET strippable coating or adhesive promoters, or removed by wiping or rinsing with hot (>160 F) water.

The basic capture coating formula may be modified for a particular need, such as the addition of Boron for reactivity control ( up to 10,000 PPM) or additional chemical agents to neutralize or buffer a contaminant.

1.3.2 Adhesive Promoters
Special adhesive promoters may be used to pre-treat surfaces that are difficult for a capture coating film to form upon. The type of promoters is a function of the surface material to be coated.

1.3.3 Strippable Coating
Strippable coatings may be used prior to use of capture coatings when it is desirable to dispose of contaminants introduced to a process area after treating the surfaces. ET strippable coatings are ammonia free. Strippable coatings are available in a variety of colors for easy waste separation and identification.

1.3.4 Durable coatings
A number of industrial durable coatings can be used by the PAG system. This would be used when near term removal of contaminants is not anticipated.

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