Op-Ed: Electrostatic spray reduces overspray in shipyards

By Joanna van Helmond, PPG Product Development Director, Marine Fouling Control, Marine and Protective Coatings

Increasing pressure for more sustainable operations and tighter margins in the maritime industry encourages shipowners and yards to explore ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste. One technique gaining attention is electrostatic coating application.

This method offers a more controlled and precise way to apply hull coatings compared to traditional airless spraying.

How Electrostatic Spray Works

Electrostatic spraying relies on a simple concept: opposites attract. Applicators use an electrostatic spray gun to charge paint particles, which are drawn to the grounded steel hull like a magnet. Electrostatic spraying requires lower paint pressure when compared to traditional airless spraying. This improves transfer efficiency as particles pass more slowly through the charging field at the gun tip. The process also introduces air at the gun tip, enabling finer atomization, creating smaller droplets which are easier to charge and therefore move efficiently toward the substrate.

This results in