Selecting  the most ideal painting system for structural steel fabrications and Galvanized steel Fabrication is a daunting task in front of the Maintenance Managers and the Chief Engineers.  It becomes all the more critical when the steel fabrications and the machinery / equipments have to be installed in the most stringent working atmospheres such as  coastal areas , highly humid area , nearly salty and saline atmosphere, areas with steam , water vapour, and chemical fumes, places with high operating temperature.  Pradeep Vaidya, CEO, Promtech Consultancy Innovative Coating Industries speaks about the ideal painting process that the company offers for steel fabrications.

Recommended for

Speaking on for which sectors in steel is the painting process recommended for, Vaidya says, “We recommend this for painting and re-painting of MS and GI structures , fabrications,  PEBs,  metal buildings, off-shore platforms construction, all rusted and non–rusted steel fabrications : solar power plants, HVAC plants, ready mix plants, factory trusses, support  structures, tank farms, chimneys, steam, water, chemicals and petro-solvents pipe-lines, columns, i-beams,  bridges, dams, transmission towers, telecom signal towers, EOT cranes, formworks and scaffoldings and a/c ducts.”

Basic properties

Vaidya says that the products that are selected for this process should have some basic properties. He says, “The product selected must be safe for workmen, low fuming, non toxic, and readily available. These products must have min 12 moths of shelf life and the metal cleaners shall be water based ( Non Flammable ). We are sure our Premium grade Anti corrosion products will prove quite useful to you, All these products must offer Excellent Corrosion protection to Mild Steel fabrications from atmospheric Rusting, Oxidation and surface chipping Corrosion. These chemicals and the paint coatings must have excellent adhesion to the metal  substrate as per recommended Indian standard specs.

Process sequence

The exact sequence to be followed is : (A)  Pre-cleaning :  (B )  Derusting : ( surface Rust Removal ) (C)  PAINTING :

•    Pre-Cleaning: Complete removal of oil and grease, surface rust must be ensured. This can be carried by chemical cleaning, solvent cleaning, sand blasting, sand papering, grinding, mechanical cleaning or any other means. Total re of residual water, cleaning of even traces of acidic cleaners, all foreign matters, dust, dirt from the cleaned surface must be ensured. The traces of impurities can cause hydrogen imbrittlement  in the microscopic pores of the metallic surface. These impurities promote sub –surface corrosion after some duration. The opened–up areas of paint coating or film on steel now provide nucleus for further rusting.

•    De-Rusting: The Chemical derusting is easily accomplished by use of RUSTOGEL 1406 offered by Innovative for all  Corroded Mild Steel Fabrications and Structural Steel. These cleaners are based on phosphoric acid, solvent, wetting agents and foaming agents. Phosphoric acid is a rust preventive acid. Being in GEL FORMAT, the chemical is quite useful for derusting and cleaning and maintenance of all heavy steel fabrications in vertical and horizontal positions.

•    Painting:   Vaidya recommends the following products for painting.     ZINKOTE 20  GP:  Zinkote GP is manufactured using 99 per cent pure zinc dust rich paint for highest corrosion resistance. Coverage: Two sq.m. Zinc Contents in DFT : 88 to 92 per cent : Zinc deposit Coating : 20-25 Offers highest Anti Corrosion properties over a long Period. Confirmation : ASTM A 780.    ZINKOTE 20 Premium: It is manufactured using 99 per cent  pure zinc flakes rich paint for highest corrosion resistance. Coverage: Two sq.m. Zinc Contents in DFT: 88 to 92 per cent: Zinc deposit per spray Coating : 20-25 Microns. Maximum two Coats recommended. Confirms to ASTM A 780:

 Contact

Pradeep Vaidya, CEO, Innovative Coating Industries, MIDC, Pune

Thane: B-7 / 701, Vedant Complex, Vartak Nagar Naka, Thane (West) – 400 606

Mobile: +91-9820181738

Email: puvpromtech@gmail.com

Sonia Vaidya, Tech Mktg Executive, Thane

Tele: +91-22-25883265, 9819813015

Email: soniavaidya30@gmail.com