Coating Selection

and
Recommendations

Introduction

Selection of a coating or coating

system is an important step in a
cost effective corrosion control
program

Can this presentation be used to

select a coating system?

NO!!!

What it will do is to provide you

with some of the questions that
need answers.

Establish Goals

Protection of the capital investment

- equipment, structures, etc.
Beautification / Aesthetics - color, gloss,
cleanability

Product Purity - tank linings, food

processing

Environmental Protection - hazardous

spills

What is an acceptable
service life for maintenance
or replacement?

Offshore Platform in North Atlantic - 10 days

per year of suitable weather

Rural Gas Plant

- cheap summer labor

Water tower in a populated area

Life cycle of the facility

Now that we have

established our goals we
can identify the following:

Exposure

Substrate

History

Limiting parameters

Exposure / Environment

Internal of a building?
General weather conditions?
High humidity?
High temperature?
Chemical fumes?
Chemical splash and spill?
Under insulation or fireproofing?
Salt spray?
Total or partial immersion?
Cycling or thermal shock?

Substrate

Carbon steel?

Galvanized metal?

Stainless Steel?

Other alloy?

Concrete?

Wood?

Over an existing coating or finish?

Other material?

Condition of the Substrate

New surface or corroded surface?

Existing Coating? (most difficult)
Corrosion / pitting?
Undercutting?
Delamination?
Adhesion of existing coating?

Will it support a new coating?

Lead?
What is the existing coating?

Compatibility?

Condition of the Substrate

Even if you get the right

answer to all the questions,
often a test patch is still
recommended.

History

Has there been an existing coating

system?
How long has it been in service?
Was that satisfactory?

What systems have been successful for

others in the same environment?
SSPC - Society for Protective Coatings
NACE - National Association of
Corrosion Engineers

Collect your own case histories

Limiting Parameters

What type of surface prep is allowed?

Application temperatures?

Caribbean summer at 120OF + or

Canadian summer evening of 40OF ?

Relative humidity?

Blast / power wash / hand tool?

Inorganic zinc / MCU

Is spray application allowed?

Limiting Parameters

VOC regulations?

These vary across North America and

around the world

Transportation after coating?

Environment - ocean transport
Shipping damage and ease of repair

Re-coatability?
Shop prime / field topcoat (time)
Delayed top-coating during fabrication

FDA / NSF / other requirements?

Summary

Set goals.

Know what the exposure is, in

detail.

Determine the substrate and its

condition.

Investigate case histories.

Identify the limiting parameters.

Last but not least,

stay current with technology
... it changes ... and fast.

Thank you!