NEWS ALERT: Understanding How Temperatures Affect Coatings for Optimal Results

Painting is an art—not only when painting fine portraits and landscapes, but also when doing industrial coating activities. So many issues factor into how a coating will perform that often only years of experience can fully prepare a painter to do the job right every time. However, to achieve best results, there are general principles that everyone can learn from, including a basic understanding of how temperatures affect coatings.

When Is It Too Cold to Paint?
In temperate climates, it is especially important to know when it is too cold to paint. For best results, Cortec® recommends painting with Cortec® anticorrosion coatings only when the temperatures remain above 45-55 °F (7-13 °C) overnight. This is because, especially for water-based coatings, paint will not form a good film if its water or solvents do not evaporate quickly enough. At worst, when temperatures drop below freezing, the coating could simply freeze and then run off when the spring thaw melts the coating.

When Is It Too Hot to Paint?
Although it is more difficult to reach a temperature at which it is too hot to paint, this can also happen. Often, it is when a metal part or structure has heated up
(e.g., to 110 °F [43 °C]) from sitting outside in hot weather and is painted with spray equipment. If the metal is hot enough to dry the coating before it has time to level out, the coating will have a pebble finish due to all the individual paint droplets drying in place.

Force dry coatings are a little different. These are specifically designed to dry at high temperatures in a coating oven. The problem arises when there is not enough “flash” time between when the coating is sprayed onto the part and the time it goes into the oven. The coating needs several minutes for the solvent and water to evaporate beforehand. Otherwise, the water can effectively start to boil, causing the coating to blister as it goes through the oven at a high temperature. This problem is easily solved by allowing the right amount of “flash” time before force drying.

Make the Most of Your Anticorrosion Coating
One of the most basic steps to ensure a coating turns out right is to paint at the right temperature. This is no less important for achieving optimal results with
Cortec
® Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™. Understanding the “why” behind temperature recommendations as explained above helps make the decision
more intuitive. Contact Cortec
® Coatings for further assistance or to choose an anticorrosion coating for your application:
https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: how temperatures affect coatings, when is it too cold to paint, anticorrosion coatings, when is it too hot to paint, Cortec, corrosion inhibiting coatings, Cortec Coatings, force dry coatings, painting in hot weather, coating blistering

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NEWS ALERT: Metal Cleaning and Flash Corrosion Protection Made Easy for Low Foam Applications

June 21, 2022

When cleaning or degreasing metals, it is important to choose a cleaning fluid that guards against flash rust. It is also important to consider the method of cleaning, since high pressure and high agitation can create a foaming mess. To address both concerns, Cortec® Corporation offers VpCI®-418 LM, a non-foaming alkaline cleaner with flash rust protection.

Preventing Flash Rust on Freshly Cleaned Metal

Metals are especially susceptible to flash corrosion after cleaning, which is why Cortec® has developed VpCI®-41x series cleaners/degreasers that contain flash rust inhibitors. These corrosion inhibitors are ideal for protecting metals that cannot be immediately coated. Other common uses include dual cleaning/corrosion protection of the following:

  • Machinery, engine blocks, or forgings coated with grease or oil deposits
  • Plate, sheet metal, and metal castings covered with oily films prior to painting or pickling
  • Metal parts contaminated with stamping, drawing, or buffing compounds
  • Metal structures

Overcoming Foam Problems in Parts Washers

When cleaning the items mentioned above, foam is usually associated with a better cleaning experience. That changes with parts washers, where high agitation creates excess foam that could overflow out of the machine and onto the floor. Pressure washing and power washing can have similar problems. VpCI®-418 LM is good for both applications because it is non-foaming and performs best with mechanical action. VpCI®-418 LM can be used on a variety of metals (carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, galvanized steel, brass [30% Zn], copper) and may be used at different dosages for light, medium, or heavy-duty cleaning.

Next time you need to clean metal parts or structures in a high agitation environment, remember to take advantage of the flash rust corrosion protection and non-foaming aspects of VpCI®-418 LM. Contact Cortec® to learn more about our portfolio of flash rust inhibiting cleaners/degreasers: https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Keywords: metal cleaning, flash corrosion protection, corrosion protection, cleaning and degreasing metals, flash rust protection, rust inhibiting cleaners, foam problems in parts washers, preventing flash rust, Cortec, VpCI

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NEWS ALERT: Formulating with Cortec® Coating Additives? Keep Foam Out of the Equation!

Cortec® offers a variety of VpCI® additives that formulators can use to boost the corrosion protection and salt spray performance of their own coatings. These additives are typically used at a much lower dose than others and are clean and efficient to add. However, the entire benefit of using a VpCI® additive is undermined when too much foam causes defects like pinholes, craters, and curtains. It is therefore imperative to know when a defoamer is needed to avoid these problems.

What Kind of Coating Are You Formulating?

The first sign that you will probably need a defoamer is when you are formulating a water-based coating. While water-based coatings often have important environmental and worker advantages, such as low VOC and easy cleanup, they almost always need a defoamer. This is less common in solvent-based coatings.

What Is the Target Application Method?

Another factor to consider is the expected method of coating application. Spray application is less likely to cause foaming problems, while vacuum coaters are notorious for creating “milk shakes”—paint with more foam than you know what to do with. Flow coaters also have the tendency to create “curtains” where entire strips of metal remain uncoated because an air bubble blocked the paint from flowing underneath that spot.

What Else Will You Be Adding to the Coating?

Coatings can contain dozens of different ingredients—each with a specific purpose—and can vary significantly from one formula to another. This means the defoamer that works for one coating may not work for another. For example, sometimes silicone defoamers may actually cause pinholes or craters due to how they interact with the other ingredients.

How to Choose the Best Defoamer

The best way to avoid foam and ensure that your Cortec® enhanced coating is a success is to talk with your defoamer supplier. Discuss the characteristics and target application of your new VpCI®-powered formula. Then try the recommended defoamers by adding them to the coating and doing a shake test or running them through a blender to see which one is best at reducing foam. It is also a good idea to apply the coating to metal to see how the finish is.

Maximize the Success of Your New Anticorrosion Coating

When you choose a Cortec® additive, the purpose is to make your coating perform better. One of the last things you want to happen is to have the coating fail because of too much foam. Next time you add a Cortec® VpCI® additive to your formulation, be sure to include a defoamer in the discussion to maximize the success of your new anticorrosion coating. Contact Cortec® for more advice on formulating coatings with VpCI® additives here: https://www.cortecadditives.com/contact-us/

Keywords: Cortec Coatings, coating additives, corrosion protection, salt spray performance, low VOC, water-based coating defoamer, silicone defoamers, how to choose the best defoamer, make your coating perform better, anticorrosion coating

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NEWS ALERT: How to Avoid Pinholes, Craters, and Other Painting Defects for Better Coatings Success!

Pinholes and craters are two common coating defects that make the paint look bad, compromise corrosion protection, and require a complete redo of the project. By understanding the root cause of these issues, painters can avoid them in the first place and promote the best possible performance of their Cortec® Coatings system.

Where Do Pinholes, Craters, and Similar Defects Come From?

Pinholes are tiny holes in the coating. Craters are larger holes. Both create weak points where corrosion can begin. These defects are almost always caused by contamination. Grease, dirt, oil, or dust on the metal changes the coating’s surface tension, causing the rest of the paint to pull away from that spot and create a gap in the coating. Pinholes can also be caused by air bubbles that do not break until after the coating has dried. One culprit is vigorous mixing that creates too much foam.

How to Prevent Pinholes and Craters

The number one way to prevent pinholes, craters, and similar defects is to clean and dry the surface before coating it. Rinsing the metal with a VpCI®-41x Series cleaner is especially beneficial for surfaces that have been sandblasted down to white metal and are at risk for flash rust as they wait to be painted. Foam control is also important. If painters are mixing the paint too rapidly, they simply need to slow down to create less foam. Other times, the problem takes place in production, and the coating manufacturer may need to modify their formula.

Do It Right the First Time

No one wants to redo a paint job and have their previous efforts wasted. That is why it is critical to guard against contamination and excess foam from the outset. By taking the precautions mentioned above, painters can get their Cortec® Coatings application off to a good start for better coatings success in the long run. Contact Cortec® Coatings for further assistance to prevent and diagnose these and other coatings problems:
https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: how to avoid coating defects, how to avoid pinholes, painting defects, Cortec Coatings, flash rust, foam control, paint defoamer, corrosion protection, painting surface prep, coatings success

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NEWS ALERT: A Great Time to Learn, Network, and Grow at the American Coatings Show 2022!

“No matter how new you are, or how long you have been in the coatings industry, there is always something new you can learn at the ACS Show.” That’s what Rick Shannon, our current Technical Service Manager and former Cortec® Coatings Chemist had to say after this year’s American Coatings Show (ACS), April 5th-7th in Indianapolis, Indiana. With good attendance and a friendly atmosphere, it was a great time for our team to learn, network, and grow with others from the coatings industry and beyond!

Attendees ranged from CEOs to college students ready to absorb as much info as possible, from current and potential customers to raw material suppliers and transportation companies. Our staff had the pleasure of speaking with visitors from around the world; learning about new raw materials (e.g., resin additives and colorants); and getting the perspective of others on the direction of the coatings industry and green chemistry, VOC regulations, and supply chain issues.

As usual, CorrVerter® captured attention for its ability to passivate rust as an alternative to sandblasting corroded steel surfaces. Visitors to the Cortec® booth were also curious to learn more about how VpCI® Technology actually works. It was especially fun when current or potential customers would stop by saying that someone had specifically told them to find Cortec®! Appreciation for Cortec’s technical expertise and field support was commonly expressed.

Thanks to all who stopped by to ask questions about Cortec® Coatings, introduce us to new connections, or simply share your enthusiasm and a friendly “hello” at ACS. We look forward to seeing where these new paths lead!

Learn more about Cortec® Additives for Coatings and Paints here: https://www.cortecadditives.com/

Keywords: ACS 2022, American Coatings Show, coatings industry, Cortec, VpCI, Cortec Coatings, supply chain issues, VOC regulations, CorrVerter, alternative to sandblasting

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NEWS ALERT: Save the Date for the American Coatings Show!

Where will you be next month? If you are interested in protective coatings, we hope you will join us April 5th-7th in Indianapolis at the American Coatings Show! This conference brings together thousands of coatings professionals for three days to focus on coatings technologies, equipment, and services.

In addition to countless networking opportunities on the exhibit floor, the conference includes a full schedule of four educational tracks from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning. Learn about everything from functional coatings to weathering and corrosion testing. Our own Cortec® rust preventative coatings representatives will also be on hand at Booth #2274 to talk shop with you, so be sure to bring your coatings questions and ideas along! You may want to ask us about

  • Our new high temp slip coating for electrical conduits
  • Our solutions for rusty surface prep
  • Our best coating combo recommendations
  • Our corrosion inhibitor coating additives
  • And our removable coatings advantages!

Whether you are a distributor, formulator, or a coatings applicator yourself, be sure to come talk to us at the Cortec® Coatings booth to find a Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ solution that works for you. Sign up today!

American Coatings Show
April 5
th– 7th , 2022
Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
Booth # 2274
https://american-coatings-show.com

Keywords: American Coatings Show, Cortec, coatings, Cortec Coatings, protective coatings, rust preventative coatings, rusty surface prep, corrosion inhibitor, corrosion inhibiting coatings, coating additives

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Coatings Plus 2021 Underscores Cortec® Industry Strengths

The Cortec® Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ team was on hand to see the year out with the final Coatings+ conference, December 13th-16th in Phoenix, Arizona. Starting next March, this former SSPC event will be fully absorbed into the annual AMPP conference created by the recent merger of SSPC with NACE International. Given these changes and current circumstances, Coatings+ attendance was small, but we still had some great interactions with those who stopped by our booth.

Once again, our VpCI® Emitter Cups were great conversation starters. A simple inquiry into the purpose of these green cups opened the door to explaining how the same VpCI® Technology can be used in many different formats—foam, paper, film, and even coatings! The rusty pipe sitting on our display table also
attracted attention with its three different coatings layers:

  1. CorrVerter® Rust Converter Primer
  2. VpCI®-396 Primer
  3. VpCI®-384 Topcoat

The first layer, CorrVerter®, was of special interest to oil and gas personnel, who often have to maintain pipelines in remote areas where it is difficult to sandblast rust. Our team was able to introduce them to CorrVerter® as an easy way to coat and passivate pipeline surfaces where the rust is not too deep or flaky yet. The coating turns black and slows down the rust even where good surface prep is difficult. The concept seemed to be new and exciting to several visitors who took home CorrVerter® samples to try for themselves.

Interestingly enough, the Coatings+ show turned out to be a great time to talk about films with one of our fellow exhibitors who may be able to benefit from our extrusion services at Cortec® Advanced Films. The vendor uses thick polyethylene film to make their coatings’ industry product, and discussions have already started on how Cortec® may be able to help them in their enterprise. Ultimately, even though the convention was not what might normally be expected, these and other conversations underscored the special strengths of Cortec® to flexibly adapt to a wide range of industry applications!

Contact us to discuss how we might adapt to your special coating, film, or other need: https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Keywords: Coatings Plus, Coatings Plus 2021, SSPC, AMPP, protective coatings industry, Cortec, coatings for oil and gas, CorrVerter, rust converter, pipeline corrosion

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NEWS ALERT: Go Zero VOC for High Chemical Resistance with VpCI®-2026 Novolac Epoxy Coating!

Many industries have tanks and floors that require coatings with extreme resistance to corrosive chemicals, elevated temperatures, and/or heavy traffic. The responsible management question is, how do you get a tough coating that will withstand extreme conditions while also limiting worker exposure to harmful VOCs? Cortec’s VpCI®-2026 Tank Lining Topcoat is an excellent answer to both concerns.

VpCI®-2026 Tank Lining Topcoat is a 2K 100% solids novolac epoxy system that can be used as a basecoat/ topcoat. It provides protection in harsh applications. It has zero VOC, thus limiting workers’ exposure to harmful paint fumes as they apply the coating. VpCI®-2026 offers good chemical-, abrasion-, and heat-resistance up to 180 °F (82 °C) (with intermittent temperatures of up to 200 °F [93 °C]) for
extreme conditions:

  • Floors with high traffic or chemical spills
  • Tanks for acids, caustics, or oils
  • Equipment splash zones
  • Chemistry lab workbenches
  • Other immersion applications

If you have tanks or floors that need coating in harsh environments like chemical processing or wastewater treatment plants, consider using VpCI®-2026. VpCI®-2026 will give you the powerful protection of a 100% solids novolac epoxy coating that also reduces the workers’ chance of breathing in harmful VOCs. Contact Cortec® Coatings today for more info: https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: low VOC paint, novolac epoxy, floor coating, chemical resistant coating, tank coating, corrosion protection, Cortec, Cortec Coatings, chemical plant maintenance, worker safety

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Which Anticorrosion Primer Should I Choose for My Harsh Application?

Some Cortec® Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ can be used for the same applications, but they have different characteristics that make them more or less attractive for the specific job. This news alert helps you differentiate between VpCI®– 395 and VpCI®-396—two great primers that can be applied in immersed structures (e.g., tanks) and harsh indoor or outdoor conditions. Here are some key considerations to guide your selection.

To Mix or Not to Mix?
VpCI®-395 is a 2K (two-component) primer that must be mixed onsite before application. This allows crosslinking of the chemistry for enhanced coating durability. However, it adds an extra step to the painting process, and any leftover paint has to be thrown away. VpCI®-396, in contrast, is more convenient as a 1K (one-component) primer because it does not have to be mixed, and the remaining paint can be saved for later by putting the lid back on the can.

Water-Based or Solvent-Based?
There are also the pros and cons of using a water-based coating vs. a solvent-based coating. VpCI®-395, for example, is water-based and contains an extremely low VOC (0.2 lbs/gal [24 g/L])—good for both users and the environment. Cleanup is also much easier by using water instead of paint thinner. On the other hand, a solventbased coating like VpCI®-396 can be applied under a wider range of temperatures than water-based coatings, and the presence of some humidity during the curing stage can be an advantage. Many times, the environmental regulations will determine the type of coating to use. The chart below offers an at-a-glance summary of some of the key differences between these two coatings.

VpCI®-395 VpCI®-396
Water-Based Epoxy Solvent-Based Urethane
2-Component 1-Component
Fast Dry (Dry to Touch: 20-30 minutes) Slower Dry (Dry to Touch: 2-3 hours)
Lower Gloss (15-25) Higher Gloss (30-50)

The final choice is up to you, but if you need further assistance choosing which of these Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ is best for your application, don’t hesitate to contact us: https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: corrosion inhibitor coatings, protective coatings, anticorrosion paint, moisture cure urethane, epoxy coatings, tank coatings, chemical resistant coatings, water based coatings, Cortec, VpCI

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