Keeping military and civilian trade secrets under wraps will, quite literally, be the job of one supplier when Africa’s biggest aerospace and defence exhibition show takes off at Waterkloof Air Force Base in September. The five-day Africa Aerospace and Defence – a biennial showcase now in its ninth edition – starts on September 14 and will showcase the latest land, sea and air technologies and capabilities from a range of global players.

While multi-million dollar deals will be put in motion during this flagship trade exhibition and air show, Rhino Intercept Africa is expected to play a critical role in providing corrosion protection to preserve the costly investments as they are stored and transported worldwide.

According to Rhino Intercept director Brendan Kelly, the patented Intercept Technology was first developed in 1984 by Lucent in the United States of America, where it was used to restore and protect the outer hull of the Statue of Liberty.

“The Intercept material looks like a plastic material, but is made of high surface area copper particles that are permanently bonded into a polymer compound. When a product is wrapped in Intercept, the material sets to work by permanently reacting with and neutralising corrosive gases to create a clean atmosphere or micro-environment.”

Kelly said the Rhino Group was the sole agent for the Intercept range of products in Africa, and that it was widely used as a turn-key solution for medium to long-term corrosion protection within the automotive, mining, oil and gas, construction and aviation industries.

Due to the nature of the industries involved, much of their work was highly confidential, he said.

“It is certainly widely used for military applications and in all cases the products being protected remain in perfect condition, without showing any signs of corrosion, ageing or damage related to electrostatic discharge.”

Corrosion Intercept protects all ferrous and non-ferrous metals, alloys, electronic components, plastics and organic materials for up to 10 years or more.

Kelly said the speed of corrosion depended on the presence of various corrosive elements or  acceleration agents, such as salts and sulphur combinations in the atmosphere. This is especially problematic at sea or in coastal conditions due to the higher presence of salts. Intercept acts as a sacrifical anode, attracting these corrosive elements to the material itself, creating an inert environment free of corrosive elements.

“Temporary coatings such as waxes and oils try to avoid contact between the bare metals and the present atmosphere. Intercept is unique in that we do not need to oil or preserve a component or machine in any other traditional way, other than wrapping a product, which cuts down on labour-intensive maintenance and substantial processing costs.”

He added that the solution performed in conditions ranging from –35 to 80°C, was environmentally safe, ISO 9001:2000 process certified, and that the materials were recyclable.

For more information, visit the Rhino Intercept Africa stand (3E14) in Hangar 3 between September 14 and 18 or online at www.rhinogroupsa.co.za