SF6 Leak Contained with Belzona SF6-FIX Composite Repair
Industry: Power (POWR)
Application: VPF-Valves, Pipes and Fittings (VPF)
Substrate: Carbon steel
Customer Location: Ontario
Application Date: February 2025
Products: Belzona 1982 (SuperWrap II),Belzona 7311
Problem: The customer had an SF6 leak around a flange that had been a recurring issue. They had tried sealing it with caulking in the past, which helped a bit, but not for long. Over time, they still needed to top off the SF6 levels twice a year to keep things running.
Application Area after surface preparation was completed
Belzona 7311 being applied onto the Breathing membrane
Belzona 7311 applied with reinforcement mesh
Completed Belzona SF6 leak repair system
Application Situation
The Belzona repair offered the customer a much more efficient and long-term solution compared to their previous temporary fixes .The Belzona application provided a one-time, permanent repair without the need to disassemble equipment. The unit was de-energized but the gas did not have to be drained to complete the repair.
Application Method
The surface was prepared using grinders, but because of the 90-degree angle on the flange, we couldn’t reach all areas evenly. To help with bonding in the section that wasn’t properly prepared, we applied Belzona 7311 with Belzona 9341 directly to that part of the flange face before putting the breathing membrane in place.
Next, we placed a membrane over the entire flange and applied Belzona 7311 with Belzona 9341 reinforcement tape. To complete the repair, we overwrapped the area with Belzona 1982 and Belzona 9371 reinforcement mesh, following the steps outlined in system leaflet GSS-14.
Belzona Facts
Belzona provided a quick, cost-effective solution compared to cutting out and replacing the leaking section, which would have taken more time and money.
The repair was completed in just two days. On the first day, we prepped the surface and cut all the mesh in advance. On the second day, we applied all the materials. This timing worked perfectly with the customer’s planned shutdown, as they had other repairs to take care of before putting the system back in service.
With Belzona, there was no need for hot work or disassembly, and the repair helped stop ongoing SF6 loss
