NEWS ALERT: Is Your Coating a Good Match for Corrosive Chemicals?

If you are a facility or maintenance manager, you probably know the importance of a good epoxy coating to protect surfaces from chemical attack and abrasion. The right coating can mean the difference between a concrete floor that lasts for decades and one that starts to disintegrate and corrode shortly after a chemical spill. It is therefore critical to ask if the coating you are considering has what it takes to resist the substances to which it will be exposed. Our “MCI®-2026 Floor Coating Chemical Resistance Guide” makes that easy when looking at the Cortec® option.

MCI®-2026 is a 100% solids, 2-component novolac epoxy coating designed for areas that need high chemical or abrasion resistance. It can be used on concrete floors, on concrete counters, and even on metal tanks (when used with MCI®-2026 Concrete Primer WB). Possible applications include chemical processing plants, manufacturing plants, or just about any industrial facility that gets heavy traffic or is at risk for chemical spills. Since MCI®-2026 meets all USDA/FDA guidelines for use in federally inspected facilities, it is also a good option for coating floors in commercial kitchens and at food processing sites.

Anyone interested in using MCI®-2026 can check the “MCI®-2026 Floor Coating Chemical Resistance Guide” to see if MCI®-2026 is a good match for the substances it is likely to encounter in their facility. This list is sorted by the following categories:

• Organic acids
• Inorganic acids
• Chlorinated solvents
• Aromatic and aliphatic solvents
• Alcohols
• Ketone esters
• Alkalis and salts
• Miscellaneous
• Oils

With almost all 100+ chemicals on the list falling in the range of fair to excellent resistance (most in the excellent category), this guide reflects the tough makeup of MCI®-2026 for chemical processors or other manufacturers. For those considering using MCI®-2026 in commercial food processing facilities, the list even includes resistance ratings for several food substances such as mayonnaise, milk, mustard, peanut butter, and vinegar that could easily fall on the floor!

Chemical resistance is an important part of many concrete and metal coatings applications. Simplify your search for the right epoxy coating by starting with this guide on MCI®-2026 chemical resistance! https://www.cortecmci.com/product/mci-2026-floor-coating/

Keywords: coating for chemicals, floor coating, concrete coating, metal tank coating, heavy traffic coating, coating for chemical spills, chemical resistance rating, epoxy coating, Cortec, MCI

For a PDF version please click here.

NEWS ALERT: Need a Quick Way to Test Coating Adhesion? Watch This Demo!

Good coating adhesion is vital to the success of a Cortec® Coating system—or any paint job, for that matter. Without it, the paint will peel off, and the surface will be unprotected. To prevent such premature failures, painters can now watch Cortec’s coating adhesion test demo video and follow the directions to make sure their paint job is headed for success!

When to Do Adhesion Testing
An adhesion test comes in handy when a painter is waiting to apply the second or third coat of paint but doesn’t know if the previous coat has cured. This is especially a problem in cool, damp weather, when water evaporation rates, and hence dry times, slow down. To be safe, it is often best for painters in these conditions to wait overnight before applying the next coat to make sure the first coat has had plenty of time to dry and cure. If time is limited, painters can do an adhesion test to see if the coating has already cured and is ready to topcoat. Adhesion testing is also important when coating over a previously painted surface; it can confirm that the old coating is still adhering and will provide a strong base for the new coating.

Two Ways to Test Adhesion
In Cortec’s demo video, Technical Services Manager and Cortec
® Coatings expert, Rick Shannon, shows two ways to test adhesion. The first is to use an ASTM D3359 test kit complete with a cutter, a brush, and directions. The cutter cuts multiple lines through the paint at one time. Two perpendicular swipes with the cutter leave a nice crosshatched section with tiny squares that can be tested by applying tape firmly and pulling it off. Adhesion is calculated based on how many squares of paint come off. The rating system ranges from 0B adhesion (all the paint squares were pulled off) to 5B adhesion (no paint squares were pulled off). In the demo video, no squares of paint came off Rick’s test panel coated with VpCI®-395, giving it an excellent 5B adhesion rating.

Rick also demonstrated how to do the same basic test out in the field when a kit is not available. Instead of using a special cutter, the painter can simply make two perpendicular sets of 11 cuts with a utility knife and see how many paint squares come off with a piece of tape. If the adhesion is good and few to no squares of paint come off, the coating should be cured enough to repaint!

It’s Your Turn!
In the past, Rick often had to explain the coatings adhesion test individually to end users asking when it was okay to apply a second or third coat of paint. Now, Cortec
® Coatings users can go directly to this demo video to see how it is done themselves or share guidance with their clients. Watch now to see how it is done! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVqiZeo4mI

Keywords: test coating adhesion, quick way to test coating adhesion, ASTM D3359, adhesion testing, prevent coating failures, paint dry times, coating over a painted surface, Cortec, VpCI, Cortec demo video

For a PDF version please click here.

PRESS RELEASE: Achieve Faster Installation, Less Downtime with Temporary Coatings for Flanges!

Piping is everywhere in process industries such as chemical and petroleum production. Furthermore, flange faces on the end of almost every pipe segment form a critical connection for pressure containment. Any deterioration of these surfaces could diminish the integrity of that connection, making preservation imperative for safety and performance concerns. Removable coatings are a great way to ensure faster installation and less downtime by keeping corrosion away from the flange face.

Removable Coatings for Flanges

Cortec® recommends two removable coatings for flange face protection. VpCI®-391 is a water-based temporary coating with low VOC (0.4 lbs/gal [48 g/L]). It leaves a clear non-tacky film that is virtually unnoticeable and can be easily removed with alkaline cleaners such as Cortec’s VpCI®-41x Series (which offers flash rust protection) before the pipe spool is installed. VpCI®-391 provides protection in harsh, outdoor, unsheltered applications and has excellent UV resistance. Since the coating leaves a dry film, it is ideal for transit applications where pipes and flanges may be repeatedly handled. For the most extreme conditions, VpCI®-368 offers even heavier duty protection. This fast-drying solvent-based coating leaves a slightly brown waxy finish and should be removed prior to flange installation using an alkaline cleaner from the VpCI®-41x Series. 

Removable Coating Advantages

As previously suggested, the main benefit of removable flange coatings is to avoid the ramifications of corrosion. Eric Uutala (Cortec® Technical Sales and Product Manager), who has extensive field experience with oil and gas industry preservation, explained the alternative: “If a raised face is damaged, either from corrosion or mechanical impact, it can cause significant delays in construction in startup activities. In the case of gramophone raised faces, the re-surfacing process can be very time consuming which could lead to further downtime (and money loss).” By taking the removable coating route, the protective mechanism conforms directly to the surface of the metal, not requiring an additional covering (e.g., plastic film) except what is needed for standard mechanical protection. In the case of VpCI®-391, there is minimal change to appearance—a plus for manufacturers concerned about aesthetics—and the coating is especially easy to remove for faster startup of the system.

Best Practices for Coating Flange Faces

Uutala reminds workers that flange preservation can be done at any point in the pipe life cycle—at the manufacturing plant, in the storage yard, or at the final site of operation. He outlines the flange coating process as follows:

  • Make sure the flange face is clean and free of rust, dirt, coatings, and any other contaminants.
  • Apply either VpCI®-368 (for brown, waxy film) or VpCI®-391 (for clear, dry film) by brush.
  • Allow to dry for 1-2 hours (or more) before covering with rigid flange cover or other approved mechanical protection (avoid wood covers because they absorb moisture).

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the condition of the flange face directly affects the condition of the system and is at risk at any point up to installation. Taking preventative measures to protect vulnerable flange faces from corrosion and mechanical damage during shipping and storage can go a long way toward preserving flange faces in their original state. A little time spent cleaning the flange and applying a coating now could translate into many hours and dollars saved later by avoiding resurfacing delays and minimizing system downtime. Contact Cortec® today to learn more about removable coatings for flange faces:
https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: temporary coatings for flanges, less downtime, faster installation, process industries, corrosion on flange face, removable coatings for flange protection, removable coating advantages, best practices for coating flange faces, Cortec, VpCI, protect flange faces from corrosion

Need a High-Resolution Photo?  Please Visit: www.cortecadvertising.com

For a PDF version please click here.

NEWS ALERT: Are You Confused About VOCs? Here’s How to Navigate Cortec® Coatings

High VOC, low VOC, zero VOC—these days, it can be hard to keep track of VOC regulations for coatings—especially since they often vary from region to region. The bottom line is that, typically, the more VOCs that users can avoid, the better. Cortec® offers these suggestions for navigating the world of paint VOCs, particularly when it comes to Cortec® Coatings for metal.

Why Do VOCs Matter?

VOCs are volatile organic compounds that vaporize into the air as a coating dries, causing a potential health hazard for those that breathe in the paint fumes. Because VOCs contribute to the amount of ozone in the air (a health hazard to humans), the U.S. EPA has been in the business of regulating these substances for more than two decades. Coatings industries are required to calculate VOC levels and report these results. Generally, industrial coatings with VOCs less than 3.5 lbs/gal (420 g/L) (all Cortec® Coatings) fall within VOC compliance at the national U.S. level, although coating users ultimately must verify and comply with local guidelines.

Low VOC and Zero VOC

The terms “low VOC” and “zero VOC” have also become popular, mostly in reference to consumer paints. While meeting these levels is not necessarily mandatory for industrial users, it does provide a helpful rule of thumb for those who are looking for ways to be “greener” or comply with environmental health and safety requirements at their own company. The generally accepted level for “low VOC” is <0.41 lbs/gal (<50 g/L) and for “zero VOC” is <0.04 lbs/gal (<5 g/L).

Choosing a Cortec® Coating

Many Cortec® Coatings fall into the lower range of VOCs (especially those that are water-based). Several are low VOC or zero VOC. Others that do not quite meet the low VOC definition still fall well within the range of compliancy in many regions. While a general rule of thumb is to opt for lower VOCs where possible, sometimes other factors such as application needs and customer specifications play into the decision and call for a coating that may not qualify as the lowest VOC on the list. The following chart includes VOCs of some of our most popular or significant coatings to help guide your selection.

If you are looking for a low or no VOC anticorrosion coating, be sure to contact us to discuss options. Some of these options are removable. Some are permanent. Some protect with a very thin unnoticeable clear coating. Altogether, they provide a great range of options to meet your environmental, health, and safety needs. Contact us to learn more: https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: coating VOCs, VOC levels, VOC standards, Cortec Coatings, low VOC coatings, zero VOC coatings, VOC compliant, anticorrosion coating, coatings for metal

For a PDF version please click here.

CASE HISTORY SPOTLIGHT #640: Restoring and Preserving Rusty Car Rims

Case History Spotlight #640: Restoring and Preserving Rusty Car Rims

A vehicle maintenance workshop in Europe was in the business of restoring car rims. They needed a way to deal with existing rust and protect against further rust long-term. Their solution was to remove loose rust with a wire brush and passivate the remaining rust with Cortec® CorrVerter®. VpCI®-396 Aluminum was applied as a topcoat, and VpCI®-368 D was used as an additional layer of protection for outdoor storage of the rims. The customer was very satisfied with the products and continued to use them on a regular basis.

To read the full case history, please visit: https://www.corteccasehistories.com/?s2member_file_download=access-s2member-level1/ch_640.pdf

Keywords: Case History Spotlight, restoring rusty car rims, passivate rust, CorrVerter, VpCI, outdoor storage, remove rust, vehicle maintenance, Cortec

For a PDF version please click here.