What Is State-of-the-Art Marine Encapsulation?
The process of marine pile encapsulation has existed for over a century. However, technological advances in materials and equipment have made this process a very effective and economical method of protecting an expensive capital investment.
The Best Type of Encapsulation: Epoxy-Filled Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer Jackets
The best type of encapsulation currently available involves the installation of a fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) form, or “jacket,” around a structural member. The jacket is then sealed along the bottom edge in preparation for being filled with epoxy.
Rows of “stand-offs,” previously attached to the inner face of the jacket, assure a uniform annular space between the structural member and the jacket itself. This annular space is commonly 1/2 inch, but it can be varied, depending upon individual specifications.
The annular cavity is filled with a two-part epoxy composed of a resin and a hardener to which a fine aggregate, such as silica sand, is added. This epoxy fills any existing voids and effectively bonds to both the structural member and the FRP jacket, creating a monolithic structure.
The protection that this type of encapsulation provides – both from the effects of corrosion and from physical damage – is extraordinary. This technique is often employed on structural members in the tidal zone – that extremely corrosive environment where cathodic protection systems cannot provide continuous protection.
