Asia Pacific
Performance Polymers
Asia Pacific
Performance Polymers
Elastocoast® — Making our Coasts and Rivers Safer
Elastocoast® is a novel, intelligent polyurethane system. It is a two-component binder for revetments in coastal areas and stabilization of river banks. It is so open-pored that it deprives wave run-up of its destructive energy, thus demonstrating its strength to make shorelines and river beds substantially safer.
An ideal revetment solution for coastal protection, Elastocoast® can also be used to restore ecology of rivers and weirs.
Benefits
The Advantages of Elastocoast® for Coastal Protection and River Bank Stabilization
- Makes coasts safer
- Porous and water-permeable
- Reduces the cost of construction and maintenance
- Absorbs the energy of impacting waves
- Environmentally sound
- Strong and with a long track record
While protecting the coasts from floods and slowing the rate of soil erosion, the open-pored structure also provides favorable conditions for restoration of the habitat’s flora and fauna.
Coastal and Flood Protection with an Intelligent PU System
Whereas conventional technology contains rigid concrete structures that can be broken down by wave impact, frost and ground subsidence, the Elastocoast® system involves the mechanical bonding of an aggregate (crushed rock or gravel) bonded with an environmentally compatible 2-component polyurethane plastic.
Elastocoast® technology
• The porous structure between the stones withstands heavy wave impact.
• The cover layer also offers a habitat for flora and fauna.
Applications
Protection on Coasts
Flood prevention and river bank stabilization
What has already proven successful in coastal protection can also be used on river banks and canals. The goal here is also to create a strong and near-natural revetment to consolidate shore zones and stabilize them against traffic-induced waves and – as in the case of the Elbe River – against the tides.
In waterway engineering, there is also the possibility of underwater installation where the rock-PU mix, after sufficient reaction time, is poured into the water close to the bank and compacted. The principle is just as simple as for dike construction and protects the banks from disintegration and damage due to strong currents.
Revetments made with BASF’s innovative solution for coastal protection, Elastocoast®, now spans an additional 820m2 of the shoreline at Gwanme-do Beach in South Korea’s largest national park, Dadohae-haesang National Park.
Elastocoast was used to rebuild the revetment alongside a beach near an abalone farm in Jindo, Korea. The beach was facing very high waves and damaged by a typhoon in 2011.
Rivers and Weirs
Elastocoast was installed in ByukGye Weir, SanCheong, Korea, changing a straight concrete fishway to a natural looking curved fishway
Elastocoast helped to restore the ecology of the Daecheong river in Kimhae, Korea that was affected by strong hydraulic power of water against the original concrete structure
Processing
Processing
Elastocoast constructed on Dachi River, China
The stones used have to be clean and surface-dry before being processed. This is a requirement that seems to be difficult at first sight. As other realized projects show, certain simple measures regarding handling and logistics eliminate this obstacle.
Elastocoast® consists of approx. 50% of vegetable fatty acid esters, thus renewable raw materials. In addition, due to the high porosity cavities it provides additional habitat for animals and plants. Also the Elastocoast® revetments easily integrate into the overall appearance of the landscape. Due to the transparency of the material, it is difficult to set them apart from naturally coloured rip-rap.
Before the material has completely cured, the surface should be covered with dry sand by which the visual effect is additionally adjusted and a skid resistant surface can be created.
Step 1:
Mixing A- and B-component
Step 2:
Adding Elastocoast® to the stones
Step 3:
Coating with Elastocoast® by tumbling process
Step 4: Placing Elastocoast® coated stones. Avoiding undercutting with geotextiles.
Finished Elastocoast® revetment
Step 4:
Placing Elastocoast® stones in the water
Step 5:
Placing Elastocoast® coated stones. Avoiding undercutting with geotextiles.
Finished Elastocoast® revetment
Innovative Products
In addition to Elastocoast® we offer further innovative materials. These might also be interesting for you.
