Allter Visco-Rite™

ALLTER Visco-Rite™ is a permanently visco-elastic corrosion protection system based on polyisobutylene (PIB) technology. Unlike conventional coatings that cure and form a rigid film, it remains permanently soft and conformable. This allows the material to maintain intimate contact with the steel, accommodate movement and irregular geometries, and recover from minor mechanical disturbance throughout its service life.

It creates a highly hydrophobic barrier between the steel surface and its environment. Its permanently visco-elastic character allows the material to wet and conform closely to the substrate, limiting pathways for water and corrosive species to reach the steel. The result is a corrosion protection concept designed around continuous contact rather than a rigid coating film.

Preventing the lateral migration of moisture and corrosion beneath a protection system is one of the key principles behind ALLTER Visco-Rite™ systems. Because the visco-elastic layer remains in intimate contact with the substrate rather than forming a rigid shell, the system is designed to limit pathways through which water can migrate underneath the coating.

It does not cure or become brittle. Its permanently visco-elastic nature allows the material to flow and recover around minor indentations, penetrations and local disturbances. Rather than claiming that every type of damage will 100% self-heal, we describe this as self-recovering behaviour. Larger mechanical damage should always be inspected and repaired according to the applicable procedure; circumferential pressure from the mechanical protection tape or shrink sleeve is part of the total coating system.

No. It is designed as a primerless system, simplifying application and eliminating a separate primer step. Its visco-elastic properties enable direct interaction with the prepared substrate, reducing application steps and potential interfaces within the corrosion protection system.

ALLTER Visco-Rite™ is designed for applications where extensive abrasive blasting may be impractical or undesirable. Depending on the application and specification, steel can be prepared using appropriate hand or power-tool cleaning methods such as bristle blasting. Loose rust, scale, contamination and poorly adhering material must be removed and the required preparation standard must always be defined for the specific project. Where higher levels of surface preparation are required or beneficial, ALLTER can engineer the complete preparation and coating system.

It has been developed with real field conditions in mind, including challenging substrates where humidity or condensation can be difficult to avoid. Suitability for damp or sweating surfaces depends on the specific system, substrate condition and project requirements. ALLTER can reproduce these conditions during application trials and qualification testing.

Pipeline coating and cathodic protection should work as one corrosion-control system. ALLTER Visco-Rite™ systems can be evaluated for compatibility with cathodic protection, including cathodic disbondment behaviour under the relevant project and ISO test conditions. This combination of barrier protection and CP compatibility is particularly important for buried and submerged pipelines.

Because ALLTER Visco-Rite™ remains permanently visco-elastic, it can accommodate movements and geometrical changes that may challenge rigid coating systems. This makes the technology particularly suitable for complex shapes, transitions, field joints and other areas where flexibility and conformability are important.

ALLTER Visco-Rite™ systems are available for a wide range of operating conditions. The applicable temperature range depends on the specific product, system build-up and service environment. For critical applications, ALLTER evaluates the complete system against the actual operating and design temperatures rather than relying on a single generic temperature claim.

ALLTER Visco-Rite™ systems can be tested and qualified against the applicable requirements and test methods of ISO 21809-3 chapter 13 for the relevant coating system and application. Ask us for the relevant qualification and test documentation for your application.

Quality control can include visual inspection, verification of surface preparation and application, system thickness and overlap checks, and holiday detection where applicable to the ALLTER Visco-Rite™ layer before application of the mechanical outer layer. Project-specific inspection and acceptance criteria can be incorporated into the application procedure and ITP.

Demanding corrosion protection applications including buried and submerged pipelines, field joints, rehabilitation projects, bends, tees, flanges, valves, casings and other complex steel geometries. It can be considered for new construction as well as maintenance and rehabilitation where conventional coating application may be difficult.

Yes. Rehabilitation is an important application area for visco-elastic technology. After assessment and appropriate preparation of the existing surface, it provides a new corrosion protection system without necessarily requiring the preparation and application conditions associated with conventional liquid coatings. The appropriate procedure depends on the condition and type of the existing coating; it is compatible with PE and PP.

Don't start with the product. Start with the pipeline. Tell us the substrate condition, existing coating, operating temperature, environment, cathodic protection conditions and required service life. ALLTER can then recommend the appropriate surface preparation + corrosion protection + mechanical protection + inspection concept and, where required, demonstrate and qualify it under simulated operating conditions. Bring us your corrosion challenge. We will test the solution with you.