In a context where corrosion protection of industrial assets is critical, solutions that combine efficiency, ease of application and sustainability are gaining ground. During the LatinCORR 2025 conference, Axel Schwartz, Regional Sales Manager South & Central America for Trenton Corporation, presented the benefits of Wax-Tape®, a product that is changing the maintenance and rehabilitation of pipes, valves and fittings in the energy and industrial industries.
What is Wax-Tape?
Wax-Tape is a flexible, self-adhesive anticorrosive coating system, composed mainly of highly refined microcrystalline wax, developed to protect metal surfaces exposed to severe conditions, such as pipes, valves and industrial fittings. According to Axel Schwartz, this coating is a two-component system:
- Microcrystalline wax primer: creates a primary barrier that displaces moisture and prevents the presence of oxygen on the metal, completely encapsulating the surface.
- Wax tape: a woven tape impregnated with the same wax base, which is placed over the primer to reinforce protection.
Why does Trenton use highly refined microcrystalline wax?
Microcrystalline wax is a by-product of the petroleum refining process, similar to kerosene wax, but with smaller crystals and denser structure. The company chooses this material because the refining process it uses is very demanding, achieving a practically pure wax, without additives, thickeners or fillers, thus preventing the product from absorbing humidity and guaranteeing reliable and long-lasting protection.
In addition, the purity of the material allows the product to be applied in contaminated environments (salinity, chlorides) without the need for aggressive surface cleaning.
Main benefits of Wax-Tape
- Total compatibility: Adheres to both metallic surfaces and other existing coatings (epoxy, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.).
- Resistance to extreme conditions: It operates in a temperature range of -40°C to 110 °C, without the need to change the operating conditions. It also withstands environments with high salinity, chlorides and chemical contaminants.
- Proven durability: Trenton offers warranties of 20 to 25 years, although there are field applications that exceed 40 years of service, demonstrating long-term reliability.
- Low maintenance cost: It does not require periodic inspections or post-installation maintenance, and in case of damage, it is easy to remove and reapply.
Installation process
The application process of the adhesive coating is designed to be quick and easy, thanks to the fact that the microcrystalline wax has a consistency that allows for manual handling, similar to a grease. This makes it easy to cover even irregular geometries, such as flanged connections or complex shaped fittings.
The surface preparation required for its application only needs a mechanical cleaning type SP2, so it is not necessary to remove adhered oxides or to perform abrasive blasting. Then, after primer application, the tape is applied manually without special tools, which can be done safely even at high temperatures, using suitable protective gloves.
In addition, Trenton accompanies its customers with short technical training programs of approximately one hour of theory and five minutes of hands-on training, allowing operators to apply the product autonomously with a low probability of error.
Added value for industrial protection
Trenton Corporation‘s Wax-Tape value proposition lies in its combination of advanced technology, ease of application, compatibility with various substrates and proven durability. With more than 40 years of successful applications and a warranty of up to 25 years, this corrosion-resistant coating is a reliable and sustainable solution for the energy and industrial industries in South and Central America.
Axel Schwartz highlighted how this product facilitates maintenance and rehabilitation processes, ensuring the long-term protection of key industrial assets.
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Source: Inspenet.