Engineering Encyclopedia

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Protective Coatings And Linings

Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional Engineering
Devlopment Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi Aramco and is
intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramco’s employees. Any material contained in
this document which is not already in the public domain may not be copied, reproduced,
sold, given, or disclosed to third parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part, without
the written permission of the Vice President, Engineering Services, Saudi Aramco.

Chapter : Paints & Coatings For additional information on this subject, contact
File Reference: COE10801 A.A. Al-Madhlouh
Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

CONTENTS PAGES

MODULE CONTENT ................................................................................................. 1

TERMINOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 6

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

MODULE CONTENT

There are 13 modules, as follows:

• Protective Coating Philosophy.

- There are four basic reasons that people paint:

+ Corrosion mitigation.
+ Aesthetics.
+ Safety.
+ Environmental concerns.

- In many locations within the Kingdom, corrosion is not that severe because of the lack
of moisture; therefore, painting is frequently undertaken for aesthetics only.

- The role personnel safety considerations play within Saudi Aramco as well as
environmental considerations are discussed in relationship to maintenance painting.

- Corrosion of carbon steel depends upon the extent of time it stays wet.

• Protective Coating Technology.

- Saudi Aramco uses many types of paints and protective coatings ranging from
temporary, single-component, nondrying rust preventatives, and alkyd paints to
extremely complex chemicals that require mixing of multiple components with limited
life.

- These paints and protective coatings serve many purposes: corrosion prevention,
appearance, extreme durability under water, and linings for pipes and tanks.

- In this module, the various coating and lining materials available to Saudi Aramco will
be described, including their uses and characteristics.

• Surface Preparation.

- Key to extended long life for any protective coating or lining system is surface
preparation.

- There are many different grades of surface preparation employed, from very simple
hand-tool cleaning to sophisticated, abrasive blast cleaning, which leaves the surface
completely free of all contaminants.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 1

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

- You will learn about the various types of surface preparation that are available, when
they are required, and for what purpose.

• Protective Coating Application.

- Paint and/or protective coating systems are applied by many application techniques,
including:

+ Hand - by mitt or glove.

+ Brush.
+ Roller.
+ Spray - conventional or other.
+ Other specialized types.

Most of these methods are used by Saudi Aramco.

- Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, but airless spray application is the
most widely used technique.

• Protective Coating and Lining Inspection.

- Quality assurance and quality control are essential to achieving long life from any
protective coating or lining system.

- Inspection begins with evaluation of the material to be applied to assure its correctness
for the application and ends when it is determined that there are no defects in the
applied coating film or protective lining.

- The techniques and tools for performing the necessary inspections will be discussed,
including how to use the very specialized equipment required by Saudi Aramco's
specification to achieve correct results.

• Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards.

- A large number of Saudi Aramco specifications, AMSS documents, and General

Instructions relate to the use of paints and protective coatings -- probably more than in
any other area of corrosion mitigation.

- The course will review the most important documents, learn what they contain, and
how they work together to form an understandable picture of the use and application
of protective coatings and linings.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 2

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

- Several examples will be worked to describe the interfit of Saudi Aramco's

specifications and standards.

- The Corrosion Control Division of the Consulting Services Department, Dhahran,

should be consulted if there is a problem in employing these standards.

From this point the course discusses the specific end uses of paints and coatings to resolve severe
and costly corrosion problems.

• Coatings to Prevent Corrosion under Thermal Insulation and Concrete.

- Corrosion can occur under any type of thermal insulation and beneath concrete,
whether it be a column or beam covered with concrete fireproofing or a rebar within
reinforced concrete construction. The same is true for both hot and cold thermal
insulation systems.

- Protective coatings are used to prevent such corrosion, and Saudi Aramco Engineering
Specifications and Instructions details their use.

- Protective coatings are used not only to protect the steel substrate but also as the main
line of defense against water or water vapor from entering the thermal insulation or
concrete jacketing system.

• Storage Tank and Vessel Linings.

- This discussion centers on linings applied to storage tanks and process vessels by
Saudi Aramco.

- In storage tanks, linings are applied to both the interior and exterior of roofs and shells
to extend their lives. The main deterrents to corrosion on tank bottom plates are
thick- or thin-film internal linings. Such linings, if properly applied, should last 20
years or more.

- The APCS specification covers linings applied to new storage tanks and vessels; it also
covers maintenance operations.

• Pipeline Coatings.

- Saudi Aramco operates thousands of kilometers of pipeline that are coated externally,
lined internally, or both. A wide range of coatings for external use includes fusion
bonded epoxy (FBE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic jacketing, and the
conventional, hot-applied coal tar enamel.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 3

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

- For comparison, pipelines are internally lined with thin-film polymerics such as fusion
bonded epoxy (FBE), or cement mortar (CML). The two most frequently used linings
in Saudi Aramco are FBE and CML.

- AES specify the type of coating to be used externally (buried or above ground) as well
as the types of linings used for specific services.

• Paint and Protective Coatings Failures and Analyses.

- Paints and protective coatings do fail, sometimes immediately after application,

sometimes after many years of service.

- This section of the course presents information on causes of the more common types
of service-related failures and recommends the repair procedures that might
successfully be used in the field.

- Corrosion Control Division should be consulted for assistance in this area.

• Marine Coatings and Performance.

- Marine environments are different from land environments. Corrosion problems and
the role of nonmetallics, plastics, coatings, rust preventatives, and cathodic protection
are discussed in relation to offshore platforms, floating equipment, and vessels.

- Although the roles and types of coatings employed are different in marine
environments, the basic steps leading to long, durable coating life are identical to other
applications.

- Discussion of Saudi Aramco's equipment includes piers, docks, off-shore structures,

and marine vessels.

• Plant Surveys.

- Plant surveys are carried out in Saudi Aramco facilities to achieve these three
objectives:

+ Prioritize a maintenance painting schedule over a 3-year period.

+ Select economical paint systems.
+ Continue to implement the basic Saudi Aramco maintenance painting philosophy.

- The methods for achieving these goals are discussed.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 4

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

- Another goal of the survey is to resolve costly, time-consuming corrosion problems

that come to light only under such a program.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 5

Engineering Encyclopedia Paints & Coatings
Protective Coatings And Linings

TERMINOLOGY

The use of paints, protective coatings, and linings is not part of any one engineering discipline,
such as chemical, mechanical, or civil, nor is it an exact science. Rather, it is more an art form
and as such has its own language and terms. This language has been cataloged by the National
Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE).

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 6