2022/05/30
Addbase Coating Development for Nonslip Rollers
TEKAD Industries – RIDD Division, Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ), MBI Global (VersaDrill Canada) (2016-2018)
Objectives
To develop a coating that cannot be produced otherwise while integrating new parts features (gripping and wear resistance).
Background
When conducting underground mining exploration, core drilling is done using a set of tubes connected to a drill bit that digs the hole while sending the cored soil into the tube. These tubes are extracted at the jacket over a long drilling distance and the final step is done manually, presenting a degree of inefficiency and a risk of injury to workers due to the tube’s considerable weight upon extraction. Through its VersaDrill Canada division, MBI Global has developed a tube extraction system for this final step.
The challenge
When starting up the tube puller, the rubber-coated rollers worked very well in the laboratory. In a real-world context, however, water-related slippage issues appeared to significantly reduce efficiency, along with premature wear caused by rock particles. MBI Global turned to TEKAD Industries and its Research in Diamond Drilling (RIDD) division for a solution. RIDD partnered with MBI Global (VersaDrill Canada), along with the Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) through a research partnership funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), to help develop a solution that would help the rollers maintain their grip on the tubes under harsh mining conditions while resisting environmental wear and tear.