KTA Staff

Premature Corrosion of Porcelain Enamel-Coated Panels

Buildings, Coating Assessment, Coating Failure, Coatings, Commercial, Lab Testing / By

Background of Design Specifications – Five stations of a commuter rail transportation system were exhibiting corrosion and coating adhesion problems.  The train stations were constructed approximately six years prior to observed coating failure. The steel surfaces (column covers, wall and ceiling cladding, soffit, security screens and structural support systems) were to receive a porcelain enamel protective […]

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Consequences of Applying Coatings Outside of the Recommended Thickness Range

4 Comments / Coating Application, Coating Failure, Coatings, Dry Film Thickness / By

When recommending a coating or coating system for a specification, or when responsible for the application of a coating, the manufacturer’s Product Data Sheet (PDS) should always be consulted.  The PDS typically contains information regarding appropriate uses and environments, performance characteristics, and application information including mixing, application methods and equipment and the recommended thickness range

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Foaming of clear topcoat

Concrete Floor Coatings Forensics Case History — Part 2

Buildings, Coating Assessment, Coating Failure, Coatings, Commercial, Concrete Floors, Lab Testing / By

Concrete Floor Coatings Forensics Case History- Part 2 When examining a coating problem in the laboratory, background information gathered during discussions with the involved parties and information obtained during a field investigation help to direct the course of the laboratory investigation. The background information collected for this case was included in last month’s F-Files, “Concrete

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demineralized water storage tank

Installation Woes of a Lining in a Demineralized Water Storage Tank

Coating Application, Coating Assessment, Coating Failure, Coatings, Lab Testing, Tanks / By

This month’s case from the F-Files concerns the application of a high performance liner in a steel demineralized water storage tank, or a demin tank.  Demineralized (purified) water can be particularly aggressive in service when even minute traces of soluble salt contamination are present on a coated substrate.  Therefore is not uncommon to see soluble

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chrissy stewart kta

True Detective – Chrissy Stewart, KTA-Tator, Inc.

KTA Announcement, Lab Testing / By

Chrissy Stewart KTA-Tator, Inc. A senior chemist at KTA-Tator, Inc., Chrissy Stewart is heavily involved in failure analysis using various analytical procedures to determine the cause of premature coating failures. She also creates customized coating material test programs (either compositional or exposure) for individual clients. During her nine-year tenure with KTA, Stewart has acquired SSPC’s

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Concrete Coating Failure

Concrete Floor Coatings Forensics Case History — Part 1, Field Investigation Phase

Buildings, Coating Assessment, Coating Failure, Coatings, Commercial, Concrete Floors / By

The field phase of this concrete floor coatings forensics case history included five steps: project familiarization and interview; moisture detection; coating thickness measurements; adhesion testing; and microscopic examination, sample collection and photographic documentation.This edition of the F-Files presents the field investigation undertaken to determine the cause of a concrete floor coating failure (Fig. 1). The

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oil and gas maintenance painting

Effective Maintenance Painting Practices for Offshore Oil & Gas Structures – Part Two

Coatings, Inspection, Pipeline Coatings / By

Undertaking maintenance painting of offshore oil and gas assets can be expensive and frustrating due to the complexity of the facility, and the highly corrosive nature of the marine and chemical-rich environment (Fig. 1). However, the author’s experiences over many years have shown that there are three simple and synergistic methodologies which — if executed

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overcoating failure

Overcoating: Maintenance or Mayhem?

1 Comment / Coating Assessment, Inspection, Maintenance Painting, Specifications / By

Whether a bridge, tank, pipeline, vessel, manufacturing facility, architectural structure or amusement park ride, at some point there will be a need for maintenance painting. The “paint guy” will share responsibility with those involved in general maintenance, funding, prioritizing, public relations and safety.Those familiar with maintenance painting may recall the four maintenance painting strategies: Do

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Maintenance Painting Practices for Offshore Oil and Gas Structures

Maintenance Painting Practices for Offshore Oil & Gas Structures: Part One

Coating Assessment, Inspection, Maintenance Painting, Offshore / By

Offshore oil and gas structures, typically floating production, storage and offloading vessels, or FPSO, and the more conventional fixed platforms, are usually very complex assemblies of fabricated steelwork, metalwork, pressure vessels, structural members, tanks, pressure equipment, valves, pumps, screens and pipework crammed into a very tight and congested deck footprint. The most widely used material

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