Castagra is a pioneer of the unique qualities afforded by the remarkable and unique chemistry that takes place when a common mineral gypsum is plasticised using vegetable oil as a near equal component. It is the oil, solvent-free renewable castor oil, which has been used by mankind therapeutically way back to ancient times in India, China Persia, Egypt, Africa, Greece, Rome and 17th century Europe. Castor oil has a highly complex fatty acid profile which is key to the unusually wide applications of the resultant protective coating. It is highly resistant to an exceptionally wide range of chemicals such as salts and acids, including hydrochloric and sulphuric. Brine submersion has shown that after more than 20 years there has been no measurable deterioration in submerged samples of the plastic.
The uniqueness is not limited to its chemical robustness but also to its physical characteristics. It has double the adhesion (ASTM D4541-09 at 73F/23C 1000 psi with 95-100% cohesion ) and excellent hardness (Shore Durometer (HBT AGRA): D 50+/-10) of most conventional epoxy coatings, sticking to Teflon to a remarkable degree. It retains its flexibility for the entire of the coating, which in interior applications could, in theory, easily exceed several hundred years. In outdoor applications, it is to all intents and purposes unaffected by strong UV as it forms a molecule deep layer of oxidation which goes no further.
Ecodur is also singular by what it does not have. It has no Volatile Organic Compounds. It is completely non-toxic, being, as previously mentioned comprised of castor oil and gypsum. It has an NSF/ANSI-61 certification which permits its use in contact with potable water, and thus, of course, in food storage areas. Ecodur can be applied in cold temperatures that few conventional coatings can compete, again because of its unique chemistry. As long as the surface to be coated is dry and is at a temperature of 5 degrees Fahrenheit above the Dew Point, it can be applied in conditions down to -40 F (-40 C).
The chemistry profile of Ecodur would not be complete without recording its ability re-bind to previous Ecodur coatings and to bind, at the molecular level, with cellulosic materials such as wood and straw. Ecodur has the potential to waterproof simple wood structures comprised of boards, plants or even straw materials. When tested in accordance with CAN/ULC S102-M88 standard method of test for surface burning characteristics of building materials and assemblies, the flame spread classification is ‘1’ or ‘A’.
With its potential for any waste stream to be fully recyclable, the castor oil component is a renewable feedstock for Ecodur that could be grown again in Texas, where the company, in its early years, fostered a program with Texas A&M to produce lower levels of ricin and a small mature size that is mechanically harvestable.
Primary Author/Presenter:
Matt Cullen
Vice President
Castagra
Lakewood, Colorado
USA
Co-Author:
Peter Roosen CEO & Inventor