30 years on Greenkote bolts help secure Chernobyl

LONDON - April 28, 2016 - PRLog -- 30 years ago this week, the first explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine was heard in the early hours of 26 April 1986. It set off a chain of events leading to a meltdown at the Soviet plant, which remains the worst nuclear disaster in history.

An uncontrolled reaction blew the roof off, spewing out a cloud of radioactive material which drifted into other parts of the USSR, including Russia and Belarus, and northern Europe.

Now, 30 years later, the latest project to contain nuclear contamination at the site is the building of the New Safe Confinement shelter (NSC).  Earlier this month, the arches of the structure were completed and now work will begin to move the arches over the original temporary structure.

The bolting solution to hold the NSC together uses Greenkote treated Tension Control Bolts (TCBs) supplied by UK manufacturer Tension Control Bolts Ltd. Greenkote treated TCBs were chosen for many reasons and furthermore in tests, they proved to be both stronger and faster to install, critical factors in a radioactive environment.

Moreover, the Greenkote TCBs need only a single person to carry out a single sided connection for each bolt rather than a 2 sided, 2 person installation process, so aiding safety and saving considerably on labour costs -  there are over 900,000 TCBs in this structure.

The bolts used in the assembly are guaranteed for 100 years against corrosion. The Greenkote coating on the bolts involves a patented thermo chemical surface modification so that the surface of the TCBs are modified but  the diameter of the bolts is minimally altered, unlike a galvanized or zinc flake coated bolt. This allows uniform tightening for every bolt, an important consideration for this huge structure which will come under tremendous vibratory strains, as it is scheduled to be relocated in its entirety and transported on purpose built rails at 10 Metres per hour over the nearby Reactor 4.

The completed NSC structure is designed to contain the residual radioactive materials at the site more effectively by providing a long term solution to a serious environmental disaster.

For details of Greenkote's processes and licensing enquiries, please visit www.greenkote.com

Photos available via Dropbox -

1.       Greenkote treated 72mm nuts
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eclwaovk9fwaqzs/Greenkote%20treated%20M72%20nuts%20close%20up.JPG?dl=0

2.       Greenkote treated bolts being installed at Chernobyl this month
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bk21r6yz51pw8ss/Greenkote%20treated%20bolts%20being%20installed%20by%20TCB%20at%20Chernobyl.jpg?dl=0

3.       Greenkote treated M72 studs
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ufwajiii9kachb7/M72%20bolts.JPG?dl=0

Media enquiries, please contact:

Guy Stephenson

Nacelle Limited

Tel:  +44 (0)20 8333 9125

Email: gstephenson@nacelle.co.uk

Editor notes

Greenkote provides protective metal coatings to mitigate corrosion that are high-performing, cost-effective and delivered using one of the greenest processes in the coatings industry.

The Greenkote process offers a number of critical advantages, depending upon the application. Using no acids, important issues such as hydrogen embrittlement are avoided, whilst the process offers high corrosion resistance, excellent paint adhesion and exceptional levels of coating consistency. When coating threads, neither internal nor external surfaces need to be reworked.

The green and clean Greenkote process minimises regulatory costs and issues, since the elimination of hazardous waste eliminates the expenses of high water consumption, waste clean-up, disposal and reporting.

Founded in 1999, Greenkote PLC was registered in the UK as a public limited company in 2005. After acquiring one of the largest custom coating companies in North America, Greenkote expanded its market presence and business infrastructure to the United States and Mexico.

Now headquartered in Brook Park, Ohio, (near Cleveland) Greenkote PLC has become one of the industry's most innovative coating technology companies. Greenkote develops proprietary metal alloy powders and process technologies which are used on its specialized equipment to coat finished metal parts. Greenkote has focused much of its attention on corrosion protection and has significant patents in that area. The company's ongoing investment in research and development enables it to maintain its technological advantage and provide customers with increasingly efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions to their coating needs.

Greenkote provides its coatings through a global network of coating centres and licensees. Greenkote plants and licensees are located in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Greenkote is a member of the Surface Engineering Association