STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

System selection for internal and external exposure

a nine page issue

4005
July 2003
revision of 5-2000

The exposure definitions and compatibility tables are used as follows.

Firstly select the appropriate exposure condition. Then compare this exposure condition with the generic
type of the existing coating system in the following tables. This indicates the system types which may be
considered for maintenance.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EXPOSURE CONDITIONS
1) INTERNAL DRY EXPOSURE
Inside buildings with neutral atmosphere.
Relative humidity below 60%
2) INTERNAL WET (HUMID) EXPOSURE
Inside buildings where condensation may occur. Atmosphere with low pollution and dry climate.
Relative humidity up to 80%
3) RURAL ATMOSPHERIC EXPOSURE
This environment usually covers areas away from the coast and industrial or urban activity.
Corrosive attack is governed mostly by humidity, rainfall and ultraviolet radiation, but is normally less
aggressive than an industrial or coastal environment.
Average sulphur dioxide content is lower than 10 g per m air.
Salt content in rain water is lower than 12 mg per litre rain.
4a) INDUSTRIAL POLLUTED ATMOSPHERIC EXPOSURE
Conditions of high humidity, ultraviolet radiation and chemical pollution will accelerate the corrosion
process and requires consideration regarding increased acidic fall out. The main effect is corrosion due
to sulphur dioxide attack and this environment is characterised by an average sulphur dioxide content of
more than 10 g per m air.
4b) SEA, COASTAL ATMOSPHERIC EXPOSURE
Conditions of high humidity, ultraviolet radiation and salt spray will accelerate the corrosion process,
aggravated by wind borne particles.
This environment is characterised by a salt content in rain water of more than 12 mg per litre rain.
5) ATMOSPHERIC EXPOSURE WITH ABRASION/IMPACT
Same conditions as for industrial polluted atmospheric exposure can be expected; additional abrasion
and impact exposure is expected. (see also 4a-4b).

page 1/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

System selection for internal and external exposure

4005
July 2003

6) HIGH TEMPERATURE EXPOSURE

High temperature surfaces: The temperature aspect is usually of greater importance than the general
atmosphere. Thermal shock may need to be considered.
7) IMMERSION IN WATER (with or without cathodic protection)
Immersion in water in conjunction with or without cathodic protection.
Subsoil water and splashzone are considered as immersion conditions.
8) IMMERSION IN WASTE WATER AND/OR SLURRIES (cathodic protection)
Applicable to river installations, sewage-treatment tanks, water tanks and domestic water systems, with
pH between 3 and 10 and where abrasion can be expected.
9) IMMERSION IN CHEMICALS
Immersion in chemicals like acids, alkalis and solvents.
Specific corrosion hazards from both liquid and vapour.
10) IMMERSION IN REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND CRUDE OIL
Immersion in aliphatic white petroleum products and crude oil.
SEQUENCE OF SEARCH FOR THE BEST COATING SYSTEM.
1 = Determine the exposure conditions, see the description.
2 = In case of maintenance, determine the type of coating or the coating system that has been used
previously.
3 = Look for a possible maintenance or new construction system.
4 = Check if the choice for the coating system is correct.
5 = Look for the specification of the system under the specific number in this manual.
6 = Study 4007; tools for maintenance management.

page 2/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

4005

System selection for internal and external exposure

July 2003
Internal dry or wet conditions
COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

INTERNAL DRY (1)

INTERNAL WET (2)

SYSTEM

ALKYD EP/
PUR

ACR
DISP

ALKYD EP/
PUR

ACR
DISP

EP/
PUR

NUMBER

4010 4011

4012

4020 4021

4022

4024

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
ALKYD
EPOXY ESTER
URETHANE ALKYD
CHLORINATED RUBBER
VINYL
EPOXY
ZC + EP
POLYURETHANE
ZC + PUR

+
+
+

+
+
+
+

#
+
+
#
#
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

+
+
+

#
+
+
#
#
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

#
#
#
+
+
+
+
+
+

ACR = Acrylic
CR = Chlorinated rubber
DISP= Dispersion
EP = Epoxy
PUR = Polyurethane
ZC = Zinc containing

+ = recommended
# = suitable, subject to detailed info
= not recommended

page 3/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

4005

System selection for internal and external exposure

July 2003
Rural conditions
COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

EXTERNAL RURAL (3)

SYSTEM

ALKYD

EP/
PUR

ACR

HS/EP
PUR

NUMBER
New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

4030

4031

4032

4034

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
ALKYD
EPOXY ESTER
URETHANE ALKYD
CHLORINATED RUBBER
VINYL
EPOXY
ZC + EP
POLYURETHANE
ZC + PUR

+
+
+

#
+
+
#
#
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

#
+
+

+
+
+
+

Powdercoatings
Epoxy
Epoxy-polyester
Polyester
Polyurethane

#
#
#
#

+
+
+
+

#
#
#
#

+
+
+
+

Stoving enamels
Alkyd-amino

#
#

Coil coatings
Acr-sil.polyester
Polyvinylydenefluoride
Polyvinylchloride
Plastisols
ACR= Acrylic
CR= Chlorinated Rubber
DISP = Dispersion
EP= Epoxy
PUR = Polyurethane
SIL = Silicone
ZC = Zinc containing

+ = recommended
# = suitable, subject to detailed info
= not recommended

page 4/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

System selection for internal and external exposure

4005
July 2003

Industrial or coastal conditions

COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

EXTERNAL INDUSTRIAL/COASTAL (4)

SYSTEM

ALKYD

EP/
PUR

HS/EP
PUR

NUMBER
New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

4040

4041

4042

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
ALKYD
EPOXY ESTER
URETHANE ALKYD
CHLORINATED RUBBER
VINYL
EPOXY
ZC + EP
POLYURETHANE
ZC + PUR

+
+
+

#
+
+
#
#
+
+
+
+

#
#
#

+
+
+
+

Powdercoatings
Epoxy
Epoxy-polyester
Polyester
Polyurethane

#
#
#
#

+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+

Stoving enamels
Alkyd-amino

#
#

Coil coatings
Acr-sil.polyester
Polyvinylydenefluoride
Polyvinylchloride
Plastisols
ACR = Acrylic
CR = Chlorinated Rubber
EP = Epoxy
HS = High Solids
MOD= Modified
PUR = Polyurethane

SIL = Silicone
ZC = Zinc containing

+ = recommended
# = suitable, subject to detailed info
= not recommended

page 5/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

System selection for internal and external exposure

4005
July 2003

Atmospheric conditions + abrasion or impact

COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

ATMOSPHERIC AND ABRASION OR IMPACT (5)

SYSTEM

EP/SF

EP/HS

NUMBER

4050

4051

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
ALKYD
EPOXY
SILICONE
SILICATE
POLYURETHANE

#
+

#
+

page 6/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

4005

System selection for internal and external exposure

July 2003
System selection for internal and external exposures
High temperatures
COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

HIGH TEMPERATURE (6)

175C
350C

200C

450C

400C

SYSTEM

ALKYD

ACRYLIC

EPOXY

SILICONE

SILICATE

NUMBER

4060

4061

4062

4063

4064

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
ALKYD
EPOXY
SILICONE
SILICATE
POLYURETHANE

+
#

+
+

#
+

#
#

EP = Epoxy
HS = High solid
SF = Solvent free

+ = recommended
# = suitable, subject to detailed info
= not recommended

page 7/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

4005

System selection for internal and external exposure

July 2003

Immersion in water - waste water slurry

COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE
MAX.TEMP.

IMMERSION WATER (7)

70C
50-70C

70C

100C

SYSTEM

EPOXY
TAR

EPOXY
SF

EPOXY
HS

PHEN
EPOXY

NUMBER

4070

4071

4072

4076

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
CHLORINATED RUBBER
EPOXY
EPOXY TAR
BITUMEN

+
+

+
#

+
#

COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

WASTE WATER (8) SLURRY

SYSTEM

EPOXY
HS

EPOXY
TAR

EPOXY
HS

EPOXY
SF

NUMBER

4100

4101

4102

4103

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
CHLORINATED RUBBER
EPOXY
EPOXY TAR
BITUMEN

+
#

#
+

+
#

page 8/9

STEEL PROTECTION

SYSTEM

4005

System selection for internal and external exposure

July 2003
Immersion in refined petroleum products - crude oil chemicals
COATING SYSTEM
EXPOSURE

IMMERSION CHEMICALS (9)

SYSTEM

EPOXY
HS

PHEN
EPOXY

EPOXY
SF

ZINC
SILICATE

EPOXY
HS

EPOXY
TAR

EPOXY
SF

NUMBER

4080

4081

4082

4083

4090

4091

4092

New Construction or
total repair
BARE METAL

Intact areas full coat

and spotrepair;
Existing coating system
EPOXY-AMINE
EPOXY-AMIDE
PHEN-EP-AMINE
EPOXY-ISOCYANATE
POLYURETHANE
COAL TAR-EPOXY
ZINC SILICATE

#
+
#
#
#
#
+

+
+
+
#
#

#
+
#

+
+
+
+
+
#
+

#
#
#
#
#
#
#

#
#

EP
HS
PHEN
SF

= Epoxy
= High solids
= Phenolic
= Solvent free

REFINED PETROLEUM (10)

PRODUCTS - CRUDE OIL

+ = recommended
# = suitable, subject to detailed info
= not recommended

Limitation of Liability - The information in this data sheet is based upon laboratory tests we believe to be

accurate and is intended for guidance only. All recommendations or suggestions relating to the use of the
products made by Sigma Coatings, whether in technical documentation, or in response to a specific enquiry, or
otherwise, are based on data which to the best of our knowledge are reliable. The products and information are
designed for users having the requisite knowledge and industrial skills and it is the end-user's responsibility to
determine the suitability of the product for its intended use.
Sigma Coatings has no control over either the quality or condition of the substrate, or the many factors
affecting the use and application of the product. Sigma Coatings does therefore not accept any liability arising
from loss, injury or damage resulting from such use or the contents of this data sheet (unless there are written
agreements stating otherwise).
The data contained herein are liable to modification as a result of practical experience and continuous product
development.
This data sheet replaces and annuls all previous issues and it is therefore the users responsibility to ensure
that this sheet is current prior to using the product.

page 9/9