To protect a substrate against corrosion, a protective coating must be applied. Applying protective coatings to physically isolate a surface from its environment is an efficient technique to prevent metal from corrosion.
These coatings guard against corrosion in one of three ways: they prevent essential components from getting together to start the corrosion process, actively inhibit a chemical reaction from occurring, or redirect the corrosion process away from the asset.
Having the coating applied is the first step. Once they have been applied, they should be inspected to ensure they meet the industry standards. Most industrial painters in Perth use a NACE inspector to provide their clients with a comprehensive paint/coating report to show that the coating applied meets or exceeds the specifications and standards set forth by the industry experts.
Adhesion Testing
Adhesion testing is a useful tool for assessing how well coatings and paints adhere to the surfaces that they are applied to. Failure to stay intact and adhered to the substrate might cause severe operational problems and financial losses. Two types of tests can be done to determine adhesion: the tape test and the pull-off test.
Chloride Testing
Before any sandblasting can take place, a chloride test must be completed. Chloride testing is important because it determines if there are any contaminants present, such as chloride salt. Any chloride salt that remains on surfaces increases the chance of corrosion and the paint failing because it draws moisture through the layers of paint.
Dry Film Thickness
The thickness of a coating measured above the surface is known as dry film thickness. Coatings can be one or more layers based on the surface being coated. The dry film thickness isn’t measured until after the coatings have cured. How thick the coating is supposed to be is determined by the type of process used and the application method.
Blast Profile
Metal surfaces are blasted in the industrial and protective coatings industries to remove mill scale, corrosion, and previous coatings and produce an anchor pattern or profile. The surface profile increases the metal’s surface area, which provides a better substrate for the coating system.
Quick and precise measurements are required after a surface has been blasted to establish a proper profile so that the surface may be primed to avoid oxidation.
Continuity/Spark Testing
Continuity testing is a non-destructive approach for detecting undesirable discontinuities in protective coatings, including gaps and pinholes. The test entails inspecting an electric circuit to verify if sufficient current flows to complete the circuit.
Low voltage is applied across the specified path during the test. When electrical flow is observed, the test region is labelled conductive, indicating the existence of discontinuities
