Getting the job done, all-in-one | World Pipelines

Oct 25, 2024

Published by Alfred Hamer, Editorial Assistant World Pipelines, Thursday, 24 Oct 24

Maja Hornig, TIB Chemicals, answers the question of whether it is possible for one single coating to meet the extensive range of requirements and standards for pipelines.

The degradation and corrosion of materials greatly affect the life time of pipeline assets. To extend their life cycle, installations must be protected from the effects of corrosion. Long lasting corrosion protection is hence one of the most crucial issues in the entire pipeline industry. Along with excellent anti-corrosion properties, protective coatings for pipelines must fulfil international standards to document and ensure the safe operation of conduits and fittings and to protect these assets.

But is it possible for one single coating to meet the extensive range of requirements and standards for oil, gas and water pipelines simultaneously? And if that coating was additionally easy to use and fit for many application methods? It turns out it is indeed possible.

The objective was the development of an extremely compatible multi-component liquid (MCL) coating based on aromatic isocyanate and advanced polyols, 100% solids, fit for direct-to-steel single-coat application and with good adhesion to parent coating like polyethylene, polypropylene or epoxy.

Four major industry standards were identified as most essential for pipes and fittings, responding to requirements of the oil and gas and the water industries: DIN EN 10290, ISO 21809-3, AWWA C222-18, and DIN 3476-2. Clearly, to ensure long term protection against chemical and mechanical attack, the focus needed to be on vital chemical-physical parameters such as excellent adhesion, high impact resistance and low cathodic disbondment values.

Mixing-related failures being a major issue in the industry, a 1:1 mixing ratio would clearly help minimising that risk to almost zero. Moreover, the all-in-one solution should serve global field projects as well as local stationary application, allowing a clean and quick application, and early testing and installation.

To achieve the desired volumetric mixing ratio of 1:1, it was first important to consider the technical requirements, like ideal density, viscosity and other values of both, polyol (resin, component A) and isocyanate (hardener, component B).

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