GLWC introduces chemical-free LotusSeal sealing solution

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KUCHING: Water specialist The Great Little Water Company Sdn Bhd (GLWC) unveils its latest chemical-free sealing solution for surfaces that mimics nature’s mechanism to repel water.

HUGE DIFFERENCE: Lulko (second left) demonstrates to an exhibition participant the before-and-after effect of LotusSeal on a marble slab during Sarbex 2010.

HUGE DIFFERENCE: Lulko (second left) demonstrates to an exhibition participant the before-and-after effect of LotusSeal on a marble slab during Sarbex 2010.

LotusSeal should provide at least eight years’ of surface protection for concrete, masonry, mortar, grout, tile, terracotta, plaster, stone, limestone, wood and many other materials, according to GLWC Asia Pte Ltd’s (GLWC Asia) managing director Rafal Lulko.

“The sealant incorporates ESA (electrostatic self-assembly), a process that applies hundreds of thousands of monolayers. Each monolayers has an opposite positive-negative charge that provides a very strong micro-layer within the surface of the materials that are being treated,” he said when met yesterday at GLWC’s booth during Sarawak Builders’ Expo (Sarbex) 2010 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

Lulko, who manages GLWC’s operation in Singapore, added that LotusSeal mimicked the water repellant mechanism seen on the surface of the lotus leaf and abalone shell.

“The monolayers form molecular globules on the surface, much like the natural surface of lotus leaves-hence the name of the solution. What’s more, once the substance was applied, the treated surface kept its original appearance and breathability,” he explained.

“The main benefit of this sealant is that it can repel not only water, but other elements like oxidation or rust, which can cause irreparable effects to materials. On of the testing grounds done in Canada that really demonstrated the sealant’s potential was of it being applied onto a blank wall, previously vandalised with graffiti drawing. After the sealant was applied, it repelled the spray paint. Therefore, no more graffitis.

“On the local front, we’d like to highlight the potential use of the sealant particularly in the oil and gas industry, where it could repel metal oxidation on the oil platform, thus preventing further damage. In turn, this can save repair and maintenance costs,” he related.

In addition, Lulko said LotusSeal could provide a powerful, long-lasting and invisible protection of up to between eight and 10 years, so long as the surface of the materials remained intact.

“The only way you could diminish the layer is either by chipping the surface off or scrapping it repeated abrasions. Otherwise, the layers remain intact,” he added. On pricing, he said it would depend on the size of the surfaces.

“We provide both the product and the service, ranging between RM2 and RM3 per square feet. However, for Sarbex 2010, GLWC offers 15 per cent off for the first 10 customers for each day, starting from May 7 to May 9. After the expo, the company will be launching LotusSeal in Kuala Lumpur over the next few weeks,” he continued.