This month’s Case from the F-Files describes the problem of bubbles, pinholes, and blisters in a polyurethane finish coat applied to new structural steel members at a coal-fired power generation plant. Many of the pinholes and bubbles were so small that they were difficult to detect with the unaided eye. Many of the largest blisters
Expanded Testing Laboratory KTA-Tator, Inc., an international provider of independent coatings testing and failure analysis services, announces the expansion of its ISO/IEC 17025 accredited chemical testing laboratory (certificate 2455.01). Due to increased client demands for testing, KTA has expanded the laboratory facilities at its Pittsburgh, PA headquarters by 20% to 6,300 square feet. In addition,
Remarkable Career Achievements during her 18 years of service. (Pittsburgh, PA) – KTA-Tator, Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Cindy O’Malley to Manager of Consulting and Laboratory Services. In her new role, O’Malley will oversee all consulting services, including failure analysis, system selection and specification development services, and research projects. She will continue
OSHA recently published a proposed regulation… to limit worker exposure to crystalline silica. According to OSHA, the proposed rule would save nearly 700 lives per year and prevent 1,600 new cases of deadly silicosis annually. The proposed standard includes the following provisions: Establishes an Action Level of 25 μg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter
Calibration and Verification of Coating Inspection Gages Question: Could you please provide a clear explanation of the calibration and verification of coating inspection gages in the coating business? I would also appreciate if you could give an example using a coating inspection gage. Answer: ASTM D7091 provides very good definitions of Calibration and Verification of Accuracy
Fig. 1: A number of organizations provide written standards and guidelines for surface preparation Coatings are applied to commercial buildings to protect a variety of materials from corrosion and deterioration, and to maintain the brand and aesthetics of the structure. Three key factors must be addressed during design and construction in order achieve long-term coating
Question: What type of coating system is most common for the exterior of an above ground concrete tanks (pre-stressed)? Answer: Many of the same coating systems that are used on steel water storage tanks are also used on concrete tanks with the exception that zinc rich primers are not applied. For example, a common concrete
A variety of coating system choices can be applied to metal roofing, including acrylic, epoxy/polyurethane, and fluoropolymer systems. Specifications frequently call for fluoropolymer coatings, which are considered to offer the best performance in long-term weathering resistance. Roof panels are fabricated from sheet-metal substrates such as steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and other metals. Galvanized steel (a
SSPC-VIS 3 Guide The following video on SSPC-VIS 3 Guide for Power and Hand Tool Cleaning over previously painted, rusted, and mill-scale bearing steel. The SSPC-VIS 3 guide is an aid for determining whether a prepared surface meets or exceeds the product specification.
This is a continuation of the article published in the January/February 2013 issue of Durability + Design, “Repair The Building Before You Repair The Paint.” In that article, a number of building repairs associated with single-wythe concrete masonry units (CMU) were discussed – repairs that should be undertaken before additional coating is applied, including problems with
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE REVISED STANDARDS FOR 2015: [button url=”https://ktauniversity.com/measuring-coating-thickness-sspc-pa-2/” size=”large” style=”blue”] Click Here to Read the Updated Article [/button] Coating thickness shall be measured in accordance with SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings Paint Application Standard No. 2 (SSPC-PA 2) is a simple enough statement, yet this common specification requirement is
Most of the past Cases from the F-Files have focused primarily (although not exclusively) on coating failures on steel. However, coating failures can and do occur on other substrates such as aluminum, wood, and concrete, to name a few. In this case, a warehouse concrete floor coating was exhibiting blistering only a few months after
An American tobacco company owned a number of large buildings, essentially steel-framed warehouses covered with corrugated galvanized steel panels, at one of its facilities. The company used the warehouse buildings for the fumigation of the tobacco, during which the entire interior of the building is filled with a gaseous insecticide that kills tobacco-damaging insects. Unfortunately,
When the paint on the exterior of a building exhibits heavy fading, chalking, or peeling, the typical solution is to clean and overcoat, but painting alone may not achieve the desired result, and in fact, it may be destined to fail. Because a number of building-related issues can affect the performance of the coating system,
Within a 20-mile radius of your home, you have seen one or more big box stores, strip malls, or other buildings with peeling paint on the exterior and/or interior surfaces. Failing paint and streaks of efflorescence are so common on buildings that it is hardly noticed until large sheets hang from the walls. While moisture
Photo by Jonny Scholes In this Case from the F-Files, large steel components for a new facility being constructed in the U.S. were fabricated, prepared, and coated overseas with an inorganic zinc primer (IOZ). Upon delivery to an inland river port in the U.S., the components were unloaded for additional assembly work and found to have
How long does it take for a premature coating failure to occur? The likelihood of failure is high shortly after application: from days to perhaps a year. In this month’s Case from the F-Files, a coating delaminated shortly after installation of the coated assemblies. Repairs were made, and the units went into service. Can failure
Premature coating problems on the standing seam roofs of two school buildings were an eyesore for the community and an issue for the school board that was trying to improve the school’s image. This article describes the site investigation, the forensic laboratory analysis, and what ultimately caused the coating to detach.Embarrassed that the four-year-old roof
From JPCL, July 2012 In this month’s F-Files, blisters formed in a lining system installed on the interior of a raw water storage tank that was constructed at a new power plant. Because careful quality control and quality assurance inspection measures were taken from the time blast cleaning began through complete curing of the lining system, it
KTA-Tator Inc. Spray polyurethane Foam (SPF) has played a key role in restoration programs for the dome and exterior of New Orleans’ Superdome. Business Wire A combination of economic drivers and technical advances has driven the development of an expanded array of solutions for roofing systems and energy-efficiency improvements in commercial buildings. Depending on