Published in the August 2006 American Longwall Magazine
The company’s patented A-100, made up of 70% water and 30% polytetrafluoroethylene (an organic, inert material also known as PTFE), does not change the properties of the host material when applied, said senior vice president of sales Edward Coates.
A-100, which Coates said is also used in other material sectors including clay and cement, is applied in a concentrated or diluted form and replaces the effort of the water already being sprayed into the impact area. Under a spray nozzle ejecting A-100 under force, “it creates a ‘cobweb’”, he said, coating the coal dust with elongated fibrils of PTFE.
The method of PTFE dispersion, said Coates, is not a new innovation – but Laurel’s product has brought the method to the next level in effectiveness and ease of use. “A-100 has proved to reduce dust be as much as four times over competitive products”, adding that the product is permanent and does not evaporate.
The company also touts the flexibility of the mixture; because of its concentrated nature, it can be altered to specific operations’ needs for better cost efficiency. Reduced environmental hazards and equipment failure and decreased safety issues and loss of product are just a few advantages that make Laurel’s A-100 dust control technology better for a mine and those that keep it running every day.
Coates also addressed one potential industry concern – the mixture building up on conveyor belts over time. “If you overspray, the PTFE can build up,” he said, noting that the company can control the spray pattern by custom fitting the nozzle so mines do not encounter that problem. Additionally, he said, Laurel encourages trial runs with the product before implementing it full-scale.
To help companies see and work in a cleaner environment, the company offers material handling training sessions and offers to prove the A-100’s effectiveness on any coal sample sent to them – they are that confident in its value to the sector. “We feel that there’s no fine particle product that we can’t de-dust. I know our product will work; I know our product will help the industry.”
