Utilities - Power

Oxifree TM198 is an exceptionally effective solution for protecting substation equipment and pylon bolting in the power utilities industry due to its high dielectric strength, active corrosion inhibition, and minimal maintenance footprint.
Unlike traditional paints or hazardous bitumen coatings, Oxifree TM198 is an organic, pliable thermoplastic resin that completely encapsulates complex geometries without adhering directly to the metal substrate.

Key Reasons Oxifree TM198 Excels in Power Utilities:

Excellent Electrical Insulation (Dielectric Strength) - Electrical substations demand materials that prevent unintended electrical discharge. Oxifree TM198 boasts a high dielectric strength of 14,000 Volts per millimetre (V/mm). This makes it superb for electrical conductor isolation and safeguarding sensitive substation control mechanisms.

Active Corrosion Arresting & Prevention - Substations and pylons are heavily exposed to harsh atmospheric conditions, UV radiation, and moisture.

Dual Protection: It functions as a physical barrier blocking oxygen and water, while slowly releasing active organic corrosion inhibitor oils. These oils penetrate tight spaces—such as pylon bolting threads—to arrest existing corrosion and prevent future degradation.

Galvanic Pitting Shield: It prevents galvanic corrosion which naturally occurs at interfaces where dissimilar metals connect in substation structures.

Zero Downtime During Application - Shutting down a power grid for infrastructure maintenance is incredibly costly. Oxifree TM198 is applied using a specialised Polymelt Application Machine that heats the resin and sprays it onto the asset. Because it can be safely applied to live equipment, it entirely eliminates utility process downtime.

Easy Inspections & Re-usability - Traditional coatings must be sandblasted off for mandatory structural testing.
- UT Transparency: Inspectors can run Ultrasonic Testing (UT) directly through the Oxifree material without removing it.
- No-Adhesion Shell: If manual inspection is required, the material can simply be sliced open and peeled away like a shell because it does not adhere to the substrate. The removed segment can then be refilled locally, as the newly applied hot resin naturally fuses with the existing layer.

Minimal Surface Preparation - Pylons and substations are often located in remote or environmentally sensitive areas where aggressive sandblasting is impractical or dangerous. Oxifree only requires a basic commercial clean (ST2) to brush away loose rust and flaking fragments before application.

Application Area	Asset Vulnerability	How Oxifree TM198 Solves It
Pylon Bolting & Jointing	Crevice corrosion; thread seizure from weathering.	Encapsulates the entire nut-and-bolt assembly. Inhibitor oils prevent bolts from seizing.
Pylon Concrete "Muffs"	Soil-to-air interface corrosion; historically coated in toxic bitumen.	Safely bridges the pylon upright steel to the concrete base. Ecologically safe and organic.
Substation Transformers & Flanges	Complex shapes, micro-gaps, thermal expansion stress.	Pliable nature allows the material to expand and contract with hot/cold cycles without cracking.