Selecting the most ideal painting system for structural steel fabrications and galvanised steel fabrication is a daunting task for maintenance managers and chief engineers. Pradeep Vaidya, CEO, Promtech Consultancy discusses the various aspects of anti-corrosion paints products.
The painting process is recommended for which types of steel fabrications and the industries sector? Recommend 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 towers, EOT cranes, formworks, and scaffoldings AC ducts etc.
Which are the products that can be selected? What are the basic chemical anti-rust properties such products must have? The products selected must be safe for workmen, low fuming, non-toxic and readily available. These products must have minimum 12 moths of shelf life and the metal cleaners shall be water based (non flammable). Premium grade anti-corrosion products will prove quite useful. 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 or substrate as per recommended Indian standard specifications.
What will be the life of the paint system? What will be the re-painting period?The effective rust free life of the recommended painting system will be governed by atmospheric moisture, chemical fumes, saline air, temperature and overall weather conditions of the plant location. It will generally be considered as 2-3 years.
What is the process sequence to be followed? The exact sequence to be followed is: pre-cleaning, de-rusting (surface rust removal) and 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. Corrosion, rusting, oxidation of mild steel is a sub surface phenomenon. Hence total pre-cleaning becomes an important to achieve optimum final results. Shot blasting, sand blasting and grit blasting are the best methods for surface cleaning.
De-rusting: The chemical de-rusting is easily accomplished using RUSTOGEL 1406. It is a user-friendly and easily washable with water.
Painting: ZINKOTE 20 GP is manufactured using 99 per cent pure zinc dust rich paint whereas ZINKOTE 20 Premium is manufactured using 99 per cent pure zinc flakes rich paint for corrosion resistance. Both these products conform to ASTM A 780.
Is zinc rich paint for cold galvanising available in aerosol spray format? Yes. Zinc rich paint is also offered as zinc metal spray (light grey finish) and zinc bright spray (silver bright finish) in 500-ml self-spray aerosol cans.
What are the advantages of using aerosol sprays?Zinc metal spray (light grey finish) and zinc bright spray (silver bright finish) are offered in 500-ml self-spray aerosol cans are convenient for on-site use, offer very uniform zinc coating film. The aerosol cans are extremely user friendly for using at work sites and at greater heights.
What are the colour availability options in zinc rich paints? For an additional cost, Promtech offers zinc rich paints in white, yellow, blue, light green and orange colour shades. This meets the required brand colour shades for specific brand equipment manufactures like RMPs, earthmoving machinery, cranes, EOT cranes, transport vehicles, chemical and petrochemicals pipe lines, steam pipe lines, silos, tank farms and chimneys.
Are any special products recommended for heat exchange equipment and chimneys? Promtech offers 600–degree CHR aluminium paint which is ideal heat resistant paints for chimneys, solar panels, chemical and steam pipelines, heat exchange equipment, and all such fabrications or structures which are operating under extreme temperature conditions. HR aluminium paint is available in silver and black colours.
Contact:Pradeep Vaidya, CEO, Promtech ConsultancyMobile: 91-9820181738 puvpromtech@gmail.com Sonoia Vaidya +91-9819813015soniavaidya30@gmail.com