New Steel: No Sand or Grit Blasting Required

Traditional metal coatings rely on mechanical adhesion. To make paint cling, contractors often grit‑blast a newly fabricated steel surface to create a toothy profile. This process is noisy, hazardous and expensive — technical data from NRX Systems notes that roughly 70 % of the cost and 75 % of coating failures are related directly to surface preparation. In other words, much of the time and money spent on a coating project goes into blasting and cleaning rather than protecting the metal.

NanoPrime™ is designed to change that equation. Instead of relying on a mechanical bond, this water‑based primer uses a patented nanotech formulation that chemically bonds to new steel. Because of this chemical reaction, there is no need for abrasive sand or grit blasting. An oil‑free surface achieved with a low‑pressure water wash is all that’s required. The primer actually reacts with the residual rust that may remain on the surface, converting iron oxide into iron phosphate — a stable compound that becomes part of the protective coating.

The chemical bonding mechanism gives NanoPrime advantages over conventional primers. It creates a strong adhesive base on substrates as varied as painted or corroded steel, galvanized or oxidized metals and even cured concrete. A typical coating relies on roughening the surface for grip; NanoPrime forms a chemical bond with iron and iron oxide and can even convert oxidized aluminum into aluminum phosphate. This means there’s no need to etch aluminum with harsh acids or to strip existing paint down to bare metal. The strong bond also improves adhesion and durability; greater adhesion translates to a longer‑lasting coating.

Ease of application is only part of the value proposition. NanoPrime is a water‑based, single‑component coating that contains zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no hazardous heavy metals. It can be applied in humid or damp conditions and on surfaces that haven’t fully dried. Its chemistry is so benign that if a can spills overboard on an offshore platform the coating can disperse in the water or grass without harmful environmental impact — the phosphates actually act as a fertilizer. With no toxic fumes or flammability concerns, crews can work safely without heavy protective gear, and there are no special storage permits required.

These benefits translate directly into savings. Because NanoPrime replaces sand blasting with a simple pressure wash, projects take fewer man‑hours and require less specialized equipment. Off‑shore platforms and island installations appreciate minimal surface prep and quick drying times, while maritime maintenance crews can touch‑up corroded steel and existing paint quickly because the primer reacts with both the old coating and the rust underneath. Infrastructure projects avoid the need for expensive containment on blasting operations, and galvanized or zinc‑coated structures that are difficult to coat with conventional paints benefit from NanoPrime’s ability to react and bond for long‑term protection.

NanoPrime demonstrates how nanotechnology can solve age‑old corrosion problems. By eliminating sand blasting, reducing surface‑prep costs and providing an eco‑friendly, high‑performance foundation for top coats, it allows fabricators, maintenance crews and engineers to protect steel, aluminum and concrete surfaces more efficiently. When you consider that surface preparation can account for the majority of a coating project’s cost, switching to a primer that bonds chemically to the substrate and converts rust into a protective layer makes both economic and environmental sense.