COMPA stands short for ‘composite patching’. It is a method for repair and reinforcement of damaged structures and pipes using composite materials. The method features application of carbon and glass fibres mixed with epoxy resin/adhesive onto a damaged surface. By curing, the resin hardens and permanently bonds to the surface, impregnating also the fibres that reinstate the strength of the damaged part. Finally, this effectively creates a solid new layer of material that provides full water tightness.

Affordable!
Cheaper than traditional cut (over 80% on a project basis) and insert procedures, reduces maintenance costs

Safe!
No hot works involved. There is no need to degasify tanks, or remove linings, ceilings, etc. or other flammable material

Fast!
As there is no need to cut and crop damaged material, it can be applied also during operation

Flexible!
Can be applied to any place reachable by human hand and it does not demand heavy and expensive equipment for application

Durable!
Epoxy is resistant to osmosis so the expected lifetime can be measured in decades

Reliable!
As it exhibits good fatigue resistance

Robust!
Does not cause stress concentrations – it actually reduces them

Light!
Low added weight

Time saving!
Can be used on board without a need to stop in cases when there is no need for degasification – very suitable for emergency repair

Repairs in aviation – 36 years ago
Repairs in civil engineering – 21 years ago
Repairs in shipbuilding – 17 years ago

COMPA Repairs technology is accepted as the temporary repair by DNV-GL and CRS (IACS members). For each repair case, an inspection interval is determined independently.

Industries: Aviation, Marine (ship) and Civil (bridge)
Structure types: aircraft membranes, equipment like cranes, oil and gas structures like tanks, piping etc.

Ship Repair:

• Repair of corrosion, cracks and reinforcement
• Vessels and storage tanks
• Secondary structures – beams or plates
• Hull structure and working in hazardous areas and often inside cargo and ballast tanks
• Bulkheads (plates and stiffeners), brackets, hull shell and decks (plates and stiffeners)
• Ramps for cars
• Machinery foundation
• Need to upgrade the loading capability of the stern car ramp
• Typical cracks near openings on side/internal shell
• Reinforcement of decks in case of local loads modifications

Pipeline:

• Pipelines in oil and gas distributions, industrial and marine
• Repair of pipe work
• Major corrosion and wall loss in a gate valve

Civil:

• Composite repairs including beam strengthening
• Beam and plate structures (bridges and supports)
• Any metallic or composite or concrete structure
• Rail rolling stock
• Steel structures over the motorways and trunk roads, mainly bridges and columns
• Roofs

Aviation:

• Pressure membranes and other applications as well

At the moment there have been more than 60 successful COMPA Repairs.

Yes, patches of adequate strength and stiffness can be designed and applied for this purpose.

Yes, if a patch is adequately designed for this purpose.

COMPA Repairs team is available in all EU countries within 24h. In all other countries in the World it takes about 2-7 days prior notice to prepare and transport the materials and specialists to the port of repair.

20 years if the patch is protected from UV or 10 years if it is not protected.

The application process depends on structure type and fabrication techniques. In general, COMPA application process is made of:

1.  Damage inspection
2.  Surface preparation
3.  Material preparation
4.  Application of material
5.  Curing
6.  Final inspection and approval

COMPA uses hand lamination or vacuum bagging process.

Much better since the cured resin does not react with elements such as salt, water and oxygen.

Fibre: carbon and glass
Resin: epoxy

There is no limit of the pressure level. The patch can be designed to withstand any pressure.

The patch application temperature needs to be between 0°C and 40°

At the moment 140°C is the maximum working temperature at which COMPA patch is functional.

COMPA repairs can be performed by trained personnel only. Optimal and robust performance of the repair/reinforcement can be secured if the application is documented and approved by a controlling body, e.g. for ships by a classification society. All COMPA applications are thus conducted also in a controlled environment, and our technicians take care of the: surface preparation, temperature and humidity.

Yes, if a patch is adequately designed for this purpose.

Yes, we can. Due to the nature of these materials, the bond between them is dominantly mechanical, and less chemical. Thus, the substrate surface needs to be well prepared to assure appropriate roughness. The mechanical tests performed during the testing phase proved that the bondline is sufficiently strong.

COMPA repair methodology allows for a fully flexible patch design for any specific purpose out there. Of course, one should be well experienced to determine loads, response and safety criteria. The company has a very experienced team of engineers, who can take on these problems with confidence.
Principally, the main criteria in that respect is the minimization of any stress concentrations in the adhesive layer between the patch and metal.