热塑性涂料非常适合要求灵活性和抗冲击性的苛刻应用。废水处理设施的一些脆弱区域包括搅拌（或耙）臂和与澄清器装置相关的部件。它们通常由碳钢制成，并涂有某种耐腐蚀产品。浸入“脏水”中的结构钢构件的这种服务、连续弯曲和应力，为乙烯-甲基丙烯酸（EMAA）塑料涂层提供了一个特别具有挑战性的环境- -它成功地应对了这一挑战。塑料表面无孔、光滑的结构也能防止污泥堆积。最近完成的涂层项目包括废水澄清器、废水缓冲罐、化学废水缓冲罐、饮用水储罐、工厂和市政当局的扶手、拖船船体和驳船。EMAA基涂料越来越受欢迎，这是有益的性能特征和不断增加的环境压力的直接结果，导致维护涂料市场寻求液体涂料的可行替代品。 粉末涂料，尤其是EMAA粉末涂料性能的进步，以及它们在车间和现场应用的能力，将使其成为越来越有吸引力的替代品。

Thermoplastic coatings are ideally suited for demanding applications that require flexibility and impact resistance. Some of the vulnerable areas of wastewater treatment facilities include the stirring (or rake) arms and components associated with the clarifier units. They are most often constructed of carbon steel and coated with a corrosion resistant product of some kind. This kind of service, continuous flexing and stressing of structural steel components immersed in "dirty water," presents a particularly challenging environment for ethylene methacrylic acid (EMAA) plastic coating--a challenge it has met quite successfully. The nonporous, slick makeup of the plastic surface also resists the buildup of sludge. Recently completed coating projects include wastewater clarifiers, wastewater surge tanks, chemical wastestream surge tanks, potable water tanks, handrails in plants and municipalities, tug boat hulls and barges. The increase in popularity of EMAA-based coatings is the direct result of both beneficial performance characteristics and increasing environmental pressures, causing the maintenance coating market to seek viable alternatives to liquid paints. Advances in the performance of powder coatings, especially EMAA powder coatings, with their ability to be applied both in the shop and in the field, will make them an increasingly attractive alternative.