Introduction According to Wikipedia, an exemplum (Latin for “example”) is a moral anecdote, brief or extended, real or fictitious, used to illustrate a point. While I wouldn’t consider deciding whether to perform painting work in a shop or in the field a “moral issue,” this story-telling approach is intended to provide a more interesting way […]
Shop Versus Field Painting: An Exemplum Read More »
Weathering steel, often referred to by the genericized trademark COR-TEN steel, is a group of steel alloys developed to form a stable corrosion-resistant surface after several years exposure to weather, potentially eliminating the need for painting in many environments. U.S. Steel (USS) holds the registered trademark on the name COR-TEN, which refers to the two
Weathering Steel – Use and Preparation When Left Uncoated and When Coated Read More »
Independent verification of coating system performance based on laboratory testing and/or field exposure is a critical component to coating system selection. For a given coating system, there may be six or eight manufacturers. It is not safe to assume that all coating systems within a given generic category are created equal. Therefore, careful evaluation of
Coating System Selection Based on Performance Evaluations Read More »
Introduction Coating thickness measurement is one of the most common quality assessments made during industrial coating applications. SSPC-PA 2, Procedure for Determining Conformance to Dry Coating Thickness Requirements is frequently referenced in coating specifications. As SSPC-PA 2 has evolved over the past four decades, a number of procedures and measurement frequencies are referenced in both
Using Scanning Probe Technology to Measure Coating Thickness Read More »
Chemical contaminants on a surface can include chlorides, ferrous ions, sulfates and nitrates, among other types of soluble salts. Chloride may come from deicing materials or marine/coastal environments, ferrous ions are a by-product of corrosion, sulfates can be airborne, particularly in industrial environments (e.g., coal-fired power plants) and nitrates may come from the soil (e.g.,
Surface Soluble Salt Measurement – Conductivity Verses Ion-specific Methods of Analysis Read More »
Many industrial and protective coating materials consist of more than one component. A multi-component coating is any product that consists of two or more separate parts that are mixed together at a specified ratio. As the materials are mixed, a reaction occurs that allows the disparate parts to chemically cross-link and form a polymer. The
It’s All in the Mix – Proper Mixing of Multi-Component Coating Systems Read More »
The second of three volumes in the Inspection Instruments for the Pipeline Coatings Industry E-Book Series, “Verifying the Quality of Coating Application” is written by KTA COO, William D. Corbett. It provides information on the proper use of test instruments for verifying the quality of the application of protective coatings. It is applicable to new
Part 1: Specifications Simplified Independent of the type of coating project, a properly prepared specification is a key component to its success. A coatings specification describes the project and the objective of the coating system. It also describes the surface preparation requirements, materials required to complete the work, the intended appearance of the completed work,
Specifying Coatings Read More »
One of the tasks for a specifier when selecting coating systems is to properly and thoroughly identify the prevailing service environment for existing structures/facilities, or the anticipated service environment for new structures or facilities. Stated more simply, once the coating system is installed, what will it be subjected to, under both normal and upset operating
Characterizing the Service Environment when Selecting Coatings Read More »
Introduction Surface preparation prior to coating installation is generally composed of two goals: achieving the minimum specified surface cleanliness, and achieving the specified range of surface profile (surface roughness). While these goals may be achieved in a single operation (e.g., by abrasive blast cleaning) or two separate operations (e.g., by water jetting or chemical stripping,
