Mining operations — especially coal mining and the associated power/cooling infrastructure — face brutal service conditions: abrasive slurry and dust, high-temperature process streams, acidic or chloride-rich fluids, and heavy fouling in heat exchangers and condensers. Curran International brings coating science + in-field restoration techniques that cut downtime, slow corrosion/erosion, and restore thermal performance so operations run longer, safer, and cheaper.

Why coatings matter in mining operations

Mining plants and their supporting systems (on-site power plants, wet processing circuits, water treatment, and cooling systems) suffer from three recurring problems: fouling (deposit build-up), corrosion (chemical attack), and abrasion/erosion (from grit and slurry). These issues reduce heat-transfer efficiency, increase fuel and pumping costs, and accelerate capital replacement cycles. Purposeful Mining Facilities Coatings change the surface chemistry and wear resistance of critical components to prevent or slow those failure modes — delivering measurable uptime and lifecycle savings.

What Curran International brings to mining & coal sites

Thin-film foul-release coatings for exchangers
Curran’s low surface-energy tube ID and plate coatings discourage sticky deposits and ash/scale adherence—keeping condensers, chillers, and process exchangers cleaner longer and preserving thermal capacity. These ultrathin films are engineered to minimize any adverse effect on heat transfer while making deposits easier to remove.

Heavy-duty immersion epoxies & polymer systems
For submerged services, slurry headers, tanks, and wastewater equipment, Curran’s Curran-1200 / Curran-1500 and Curran-500 epoxy families deliver chemical and temperature resilience suitable for pulp, mining, and coal-fired plant environments—resisting attack from chlorides, acids, and hot process fluids.

Thermal-spray & alloy upgrades for erosion resistance
Where abrasion and high-velocity particulate erosion dominate (e.g., slurry piping, pumps, elbows), metallurgical upgrades like HVOF or alloy overlays are proven options. Combining hard thermal-spray claddings with Curran’s polymeric systems gives a layered defense: metal upgrade for impact resistance, polymer/epoxy for corrosion sealing and leak prevention.

In-situ full-length liners & flex-lance application
When tube walls are thinned or pitted, Curran can install hydraulically expanded liners (alloy options like C276 or Inconel) or apply coatings using their flex-lance method to reach long, small-diameter runs without full disassembly — a big advantage for mines where long outages are extremely costly.

NACE-level surface prep + NDE support
Curran pairs dry-grit cleaning to NACE 1 “white metal” with borescope/NDE verification so coatings bond to a sound surface and inspectors can validate results — essential in hostile mining streams where adhesion failures would be catastrophic.

Typical mining & coal applications

  • Cooling-water and condenser tube bundles at mine-site power plants and co-gen units.
  • Heat exchangers handling slurry or process water in mineral processing circuits.
  • Flue-gas condensers and economizers in coal-fired boilers (anti-foul / corrosion control).
  • Pumps, elbows, impellers, and chutes requiring erosion-resistant overlays.
  • Tanks, clarifiers, and piping subject to aggressive chemistries and frequent CIP or washdowns.

The Curran process (how a project typically runs)

  1. Survey & sample — on-site inspection, metallurgy review, and deposit sampling to identify fouling/erosion mechanisms.
  2. Select materials — choose between thin-film foul-release, high-build epoxies, fluoropolymers, or thermal-spray alloys based on temp, chemistry, and abrasion.
  3. Precision surface prep — dry grit blast to NACE 1 where required; borescope and holiday testing.
  4. Application — shop or field coating, flex-lance application for long tubes, or hydraulic liner insertion as needed.
  5. QA / documentation — NDE sign-off, cure verification, and maintenance guidance for better lifecycle planning.

Measurable benefits & ROI

  • Reduced cleaning frequency — foul-release coatings and surface treatments can multiply run-lengths between mechanical cleanings (DOE studies show ultrathin treatments help condensers in coal systems).
  • Lower fuel / pumping costs — restored heat transfer reduces boiler and pump loads, translating to direct energy savings.
  • Extended asset life — liners, polymer seals, and alloy overlays postpone expensive retubing or replacements.
  • Shorter outages — in-situ methods and flex-lance coatings let you fix or protect equipment with less downtime than full rebuilds.

Why mine operators choose Curran

  • Field-proven exchanger coatings and restoration techniques — Curran’s heat-exchanger coating experience translates directly to the extreme conditions found in mining and coal-power services.
  • Comprehensive options — from ultrathin foul-release films to 100% solids immersion epoxies and alloy overlays, Curran covers the full spectrum of mining failure modes.
  • Global reach with rapid execution — shop and field capabilities reduce logistics overhead for remote mine sites.

Ready to protect your operation with Mining Facilities Coatings?

If fouling, corrosion, or erosion are costing your mine time and money, Curran International can map a targeted Mining Facilities Coatings strategy for exchangers, piping, and critical assets — often with payback inside a single major turnaround. Contact Curran for a site assessment and a case-specific ROI model.