Prediction of service life for naturally exposed coatings remains problematic. A number of factors can have an effect on coating performance, but none more so than surface preparation, the primary factor that influences how long a...
As seen in the Fall Edition of PaintSquare Press News The Surface Preparation Hand Tool Cleaning Standard (SSPC-SP 2) was first published as a temporary specification in August 1952 (SSPC-SP 2-52T), only two years after the Steel ...
Most of the SSPC surface preparation standards focus on the preparation of steel, either by abrasive blast cleaning (dry and wet), power tool cleaning, or water jetting. Recognizing that galvanizing, non-ferrous metals and v...
Introduction Over 2,000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle discovered (or uncovered) the fact that our world wasn’t flat. While the earth itself is round, the topography of what is on this earth is neither flat nor round, ...
Bare galvanizing provides excellent corrosion protection at a pH between 7 and 13, but corrosion of the zinc increases as the pH becomes more acidic (less than 7), or more alkaline (greater than 13). When galvanizing is exposed t...
Introduction Coating specifications and contract documents often contain stipulations for the maximum length of time a prepared steel surface can remain uncoated. We’ll refer to this as the “prep-to-prime window.” This brief artic...
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-prod...
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). Whil...
There are many challenges associated with cleaning and painting commercial buildings. Questions often arise regarding surface preparation, application and final thickness or appearance. Three of the many questions our consultancy ...
SSPC has published four visual guides that depict the different degrees of cleaning for dry and wet abrasive blast cleaning, water jetting, and hand/power tool cleaning. Two of the four were prepared jointly with NACE Internation...
