3: Metal Protection and Repair

This chapter deals with the vulnerability to corrosion and other problems that polymeric repair and maintenance materials can solve for metals and alloys used in the manufacture of equipment, machinery and fittings for industrial production, processing and distribution, as well as for building framework and shipbuilding. The applications for which the essential chemistry and technology of polymeric protection and repair solutions, and fitness-for-purpose testing methods considered, are: Corrosion-resistant primers for the prevention or delay of rusting of iron and steel; Polymeric barrier coatings used alone or in combination with primers and sometimes finish coats, for the protection of structural steel, concrete and masonry from general corrosion; Protective coatings to resist surface erosion from mechanical impact and the cutting action or abrasive wear of hard solid particles, erosion–corrosion from slurries, impingement from particles entrained in fast flowing liquids or gasses, and impingement from fast flowing liquids; Protective coatings and linings which resist aggressive processing reagents and solvents, crude oil and gas, produced chemicals, fuels and oils, raw water and industrial effluent/waste; Coatings that provide protection from corrosion, erosion or chemical attack at high continuous operating temperatures; Polymeric materials for diverse construction, rebuilding, repair and mechanical engineering problems; Corrosion-resistant coatings applied directly to steel before insulation or a fireproofing system is installed, and seamless and flexible coating encapsulation for insulation and cladding; Passive fire protection coatings for load bearing steelwork, and fire retardant polymeric encapsulation systems used to weatherproof insulation applied over steelwork in highly corrosive industrial environments.