Fosroc Nitocote ET140
Two-component solvented coal tar epoxy coating that protects steel and concrete against corrosion in water-immersed, effluent and marine environments.
What is it?
A two-pack, solvented coal tar epoxy protective coating that combines pitch-modified epoxy resin with an amine hardener to form a tough, chemically resistant film on steel and concrete.
Where is it used?
Water-retaining and submerged structures, sewage and effluent treatment plants, dock and harbour works, pipelines, chemical bunds and roof gardens (as an anti-root barrier).
Why use it?
It delivers long-term corrosion and moisture protection with excellent resistance to all types of water, needs no separate primer in most cases, and is economical compared with high-build epoxies or polyurethanes.
How is it applied?
Mixed on site (full hardener can into the base), then applied in two coats by brush, lambswool roller or spray to achieve a 100-micron dry film thickness on a clean, dry, properly prepared substrate.
About Fosroc Nitocote ET140
Fosroc Nitocote ET140 is a protective coating built around solvented coal tar epoxy chemistry. It is supplied as a two-component system: a base of pitch-modified epoxy resin and a separate amine hardener, both pre-weighed for on-site mixing. When combined and cured, the two parts cross-link into a continuous, dense film that bonds tightly to steel and concrete and shrugs off the kind of aggressive wet exposure that defeats ordinary paints. For contractors and consultants working on water and effluent infrastructure across India, it is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend the service life of submerged and splash-zone assets.\n\nThe product sits in Fosroc’s protective coatings range and is purpose-built for environments where moisture, sewage, salt water and dilute chemicals attack unprotected surfaces. Typical hosts are the inside faces of water and effluent tanks, sewage treatment chambers, pipelines, dock and harbour structures, and concrete bunds. Because the cured film resists root penetration, it also serves as an anti-root membrane beneath roof gardens and landscaped decks. It is suitable for both internal and external use and performs equally well on vertical and horizontal surfaces, holding out well without sagging on walls and tank sides.\n\nNitocote ET140 is specified as a chemically resistant, prepacked, two-part coal tar epoxy with a minimum of 45% volume solids, applied to a total dry film thickness of not less than 100 microns. The optimum 100-micron DFT is reached in two coats from a single 4-litre pack, which covers approximately 35 square metres per coat. With a mixed specific gravity of 1.20 and a fully cured film that is tough and abrasion resistant, it is well matched to the abrasive, constantly wet duty found in Indian municipal and industrial water works. Space Arc Engineering supplies and applies Nitocote ET140 as an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator serving Delhi NCR and the wider pan-India market.
The technical insight
The defining feature of Nitocote ET140 is its coal tar epoxy (pitch epoxy) backbone. Blending coal tar pitch into an amine-cured epoxy gives a film that is far more hydrophobic and water-impermeable than a standard epoxy, which is exactly why it excels in constant-immersion and effluent duty. The trade-off is that coal tar epoxies are dark (black/brown), are not UV-colour-stable, and are being phased out in some export markets on health grounds, so handling discipline and ventilation matter. The minimum 45% volume solids and the solvented carrier mean ET140 is a low-to-medium build coating: it lays down thin, even coats and reaches its 100-micron design DFT in two passes rather than one heavy coat, which keeps pinholing and solvent entrapment under control. Cure is temperature-dependent: pot life is 2 hours at 20C but only 1.5 hours at 35C, time between coats drops from 4 hours to 2 hours, and full cure shortens from 7 days to 5 days as ambient temperature rises. Below 20C these times extend, and application below 15C or above 40C should be referred to Fosroc. Surface preparation governs performance more than any other factor: steel needs shot blasting to a 125-micron profile, concrete must be cured at least 28 days and freed of laitance by acid etching with Reebaklens, and all substrates must be clean and dry to develop full adhesion.
Where it is used
- Internal lining of potable-adjacent and non-potable water tanks, reservoirs and sumps
- Sewage treatment works, effluent and industrial wastewater tanks and channels
- Submerged and buried pipelines and steel penstocks
- Dock, jetty, harbour and other marine concrete and steel structures
- Chemical containment bunds and secondary containment areas
- Anti-root barrier coating beneath roof gardens and landscaped podiums
- Corrosion protection of structural steel in damp, splash-zone and industrial atmospheres
Key advantages
- Excellent resistance to all types of water including sea water, ground water, distilled and effluent water
- Two-pack pre-weighed packaging removes site batching errors and gives consistent cure
- No separate primer needed in most cases, saving a coat and labour
- Good hold-out on vertical surfaces, so tank walls and steelwork coat without sagging
- Resistant to dilute mineral acids and alkalis, salt solutions, many organic solvents, oils and fats
- Tough, abrasion-resistant cured film suited to high-wear wet environments
- Can be applied by brush, lambswool roller or spray to suit access and area size
- Economical cost per square metre versus high-build epoxy or polyurethane systems
Limitations & considerations
- Coal tar epoxy is dark only (black/brown) and not available in decorative or light colours
- Not UV colour-stable, so exposed films chalk and may discolour over time
- Both ET140 and the Nitoflor Sol cleaner are flammable, requiring ventilation and no naked flames (flash point ET140 25C)
- Can sensitise skin; epoxy resin and coal tar can cause dermatitis, so gloves, goggles and barrier creams are mandatory
- Short pot life, only about 2 hours at 20C and 1.5 hours at 35C, so mix in workable quantities
- Application window is 15C to 40C; outside this range Fosroc must be consulted
- Demands rigorous surface preparation: 28-day concrete cure, laitance etching, and steel blasting to a 125-micron profile
- Coal tar chemistry faces growing regulatory and health scrutiny, so check local acceptance for sensitive or potable projects
Selection & best practice
Always start from a structurally sound, clean and dry substrate. On concrete, allow a minimum 28-day cure, remove laitance by etching with Reebaklens, then wash and dry fully; on steel, shot blast to a 125-micron surface profile and coat before flash rust forms. Mix only what can be used within the pot life: pour the entire hardener can into the base and power-mix for at least 3 minutes with a slow-speed (300-500 rpm) flameproof or air-driven drill and paddle. Apply two coats to build the 100-micron DFT, respecting the time-between-coats window (4 hours at 20C, 2 hours at 35C). Maintain ambient temperature between 15C and 40C, ensure good ventilation, keep away from naked flames, and use gloves, goggles and barrier cream throughout. Clean tools immediately with Nitoflor Sol, and protect the freshly coated surface from water and traffic until full cure (7 days at 20C, 5 days at 35C). Store unopened packs below 35C and use within the 6-month shelf life.
Specifications
| Product type | Two-pack solvented coal tar (pitch) epoxy protective coating |
| Components | Base: pitch epoxy resin blend; Hardener: amine |
| Colour | Black / dark (coal tar) |
| Specific gravity (mixed) | 1.20 |
| Volume solids | Minimum 45% |
| Total dry film thickness | Not less than 100 microns (2 coats) |
| Coverage | Approx. 35 m² per coat per 4-litre pack at 100 microns WFT |
| Number of coats | 2 |
| Pot life | 2 hrs at 20°C; 1½ hrs at 35°C |
| Time between coats | 4 hrs at 20°C; 2 hrs at 35°C |
| Initial hardness | 24 hrs at 20°C; 16 hrs at 35°C |
| Full cure | 7 days at 20°C; 5 days at 35°C |
| Application temperature | Minimum 15°C; consult Fosroc below 15°C or above 40°C |
| Flash point | 25°C (Nitocote ET140) |
| Steel preparation | Shot blast to 125-micron profile |
| Concrete preparation | Cure min 28 days; etch laitance with Reebaklens |
| Application method | Brush, lambswool roller or spray |
| Pack size | 4 litres |
| Shelf life | 6 months unopened, stored below 35°C |
| Cleaner / thinner | Nitoflor Sol |
Industry use cases
Municipal water & sewage
Internal lining of effluent tanks, sewage chambers and treatment-plant concrete to resist constant immersion in waste water and sewage gases.
Marine & ports
Corrosion protection of dock, jetty and harbour concrete and steel in sea-water splash and tidal zones.
Industrial & process plants
Lining of chemical containment bunds and protection of steelwork against dilute acids, alkalis, oils and salt solutions.
Water infrastructure
Coating of buried and submerged pipelines, penstocks and sumps where long-term water resistance is critical.
Buildings & landscaping
Anti-root barrier beneath roof gardens and podium landscaping to stop root penetration into the structural deck.
Frequently asked questions
What type of coating is Fosroc Nitocote ET140?
How much area does one pack of Nitocote ET140 cover?
What is the dry film thickness and how many coats are required?
Does Nitocote ET140 need a primer?
How long does Nitocote ET140 take to cure?
Is Nitocote ET140 safe for potable water tanks?
How we position Fosroc Nitocote ET140
Within the Fosroc protective-coatings family, Nitocote ET140 is the economical coal tar epoxy choice for water-immersed and effluent duty. It sits alongside related Fosroc products such as Nitocote EP140 / EP140(M) (epoxy coatings without coal tar, for cleaner or lighter-coloured requirements), Nitocote ET401, Nitocote EPS and Nitocote EPU (epoxy/polyurethane systems), with surface preparation supported by Reebaklens etch and Nitoflor Sol as the companion cleaner-thinner. Where a project needs decorative colour, UV stability or potable-water certification, ET140 is not the right tool and an alternative system should be specified. Credible competitor products in the Indian market include Sika’s coal tar epoxy and Sikagard ranges, MBCC/Master Builders Solutions (formerly BASF) protective coatings, Dr. Fixit’s epoxy coating systems from Pidilite, and STP Limited’s bituminous and epoxy protective coatings. Space Arc Engineering, as an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator across Delhi NCR and pan-India, can help consultants and contractors weigh ET140 against these options and match the correct coating to the exposure, compliance and budget of each project.
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