Materials Performance

OCT 2017

Materials Performance is the world's most widely circulated magazine dedicated to corrosion prevention and control. MP provides information about the latest corrosion control technologies and practical applications for every industry and environment.

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43 NACE INTERNATIONAL: VOL. 56, NO. 10 MATERIALS PERFORMANCE OCTOBER 2017 details have a way of escaping notice. at, again, is where your coating inspector plays a crucial role in ensuring the coating is applied correctly. Of course, the painting contractor wants to make sure the job is done right and will often use one of their own to pro- vide some quality control (QC) for the job. is employee of the painting contractor is in charge of verifying that aspects, such as surface preparation, coating application, adhesion, and other details, are in line with all of the demands made of the job as stated in the specification. e paint contractor's QC, though, is also driven to ensure production stays on track. Additionally, some coating compa- nies don't use a QC inspector. ey rely on the applicators to ensure the requirements of the specification are met. So how does the asset owner know that the job was done right the first time? A responsible asset owner will want to take that next step to verify the high quality of work performed by an industrial painting contractor. at is where a third-party inspector comes in. A third-party inspector, or quality assur- ance (QA) inspector, works directly for the asset owner, or general contractor, and cor- roborates the findings and measurements of the painting application company. is position acts as a vital check to ensure that no corners were cut and that all aspects of the project were followed to spec. Not only should this help extend the life of the asset, it should also help prevent the expensive and potentially dangerous consequences from a premature coatings failure. A QA inspector should: • Examine the total painted surface of an asset in search of signs that the substrate was properly cleaned and prepped ahead of painting. Bubbles, bumps, chips, discoloration, or other irregularities in a painted surface may be the result of particles or solutions left on the substrate before painting. • Check joints between asset parts or areas where water could collect and stagnate as these are likely starting points for corrosion. Discoloration, chipping, or flaking of paint in these areas or on other painted surfaces may indicate the substrate has corroded beneath the coating. • Use nondestructive testing (NDT) methods such as ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic waves, thermogra- phy, and lasers to see whether coatings are performing as intended or that they were applied correctly. NDT methods allow inspectors to accurately assess the dry film thick- ness (DFT) and bonding properties of a coating to ensure proper application. A QA coating inspector is far from a "gotcha" position. Coating systems are com- plicated, and a myriad of factors—from ambient conditions to application meth- ods—make the business of applying them even more complex. So it's helpful for trained, experienced professionals to work together to achieve a final product that matches the project's specifications. e bottom line is that it is important for asset owners to make sure they're in control of the quality of their coating, both to guard against a careless application and to ensure that a complicated process goes off without a hitch. And, of course, QA coat- ing inspectors do more than just prevent a catastrophic failure. ey provide the owner's peace of mind by ensuring the coating protecting their assets will have a long life and serve with distinction, hope- fully saving them time, money, and frustra- tion in the long run. is article, by M. Harkin, president of FeO, is condensed and reprinted with permission from CoatingsPro Magazine (http://www.coatingspromag.com/articles/ business-tips/2017/09/what-to-expect-from- a-coating-inspector).

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