Case Study: Changwon Tunnel

The four-lane Changwon Tunnel is located on road number 1020 in the South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea. The tunnel’s twin bores through the mountain are each approximately 7,677 feet (2340 m) long, 31 feet (9.4 m) wide and 15 feet (7.6 m) high (as measured from the roadway to the top of the tunnel arch). Southbound traffic experiences a significant descending gradient inside the tunnel, while northbound traffic experiences a corresponding ascending gradient. The two-lane descending tunnel was opened in 1993 and the two-lane ascending tunnel was opened in 1997.

To improve illumination, visibility, cleanliness and safety within the Changwon Tunnel, the team responsible for maintaining the structure decided to paint the unfinished ceiling, which was dulling as a result of dirt and other airborne pollutants. Because the coating was to be applied inside the tunnel, the use of a low-VOC water-based coating was a key requirement. Other important coating performance characteristics desired were long-term durability, ability to resist dirt pick-up, biological growth accumulation, and other weathering factors, and retention of reflective value and color.

Based on the study’s findings and other performance considerations, the maintenance team decided that the AKUAFLON® product from AK Chemtech would be the ceiling topcoat of choice for achieving the specific goals for the Changwon Tunnel project. AKUAFLON® coating is based on Kynar Aquatec® PVDF technology, an innovative platform of emulsions for producing ultra-durable water-based coatings that can be formulated with VOC levels below 100 grams/liter. Coatings containing these emulsions provide the long-lasting durability and excellent weatherability benefits of traditional Kynar 500® resin-based coatings and can easily be applied to a variety of substrates. Another benefit of the Kynar Aquatec® resin-based AKUAFLON® coating is its exceptional resistance to dirt pickup and biological growth that can reduce reflectivity.