S

P R E P A R A T I O N
& APPLICATION
G

Performance
never
looked
better.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Surface Preparation

of Carbon Steel

of Ductile and Cast Iron

of Stainless Steel

of Galvanized Steel and Other Non-Ferrous Metals

of Concrete and Masonry

of Plaster

of Gypsum Drywall Construction

of Wood

of Previously Painted Surfaces

Application Guide

10

F i l m C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ( Ta b l e V I )

14

SURFACE PREPARATION
Most surface preparation
and application operations require
the use of appropriate personal
protection equipment and
engineering and administrative
controls. The most obvious
examples of this are abrasive
blast cleaning and spray painting
operations. It is incumbent upon
the coatings and abrasive blast
cleaning contractors to ensure that
all personnel are properly protected
from all hazards.

prevented through proper evaluation,

specification, and control of
these two vital factors. The
intent of this portfolio is to
offer basic guidelines enabling
you to maximize your coating
expenditure. The information
presented has been accumulated
from outside technical reports and
publications, as well as Tnemecs
own research and experience in
this field.

Numerous OSHA regulations specify

when, where and how workers are
to be protected. These regulations,
the coatings and equipment
manufacturers, and/or local OSHA
officials should be consulted
as necessary to ensure proper
protection, compliance with the
law, and to avoid liability issues.
Can labels and Material Safety Data
Sheets should always be consulted
prior to coatings operations.

SURFACE PREPARATION AND

COATING PERFORMANCE

Safety and health details should

be addressed prior to implementing
these operations.
Each year millions of dollars are
wasted on good coating systems
that will fail prematurely due to
inadequate surface preparation or
improper application. Much of this
waste is needless and can be

Coating performance is dependent

on adequate surface preparation
and application. Properly written
painting specifications incorporate
surface preparation and application
procedures as an integral part of
the coating system in recognition
of this fact. This guide is designed
not only as a basic reference to
modern surface preparation and
application methods and procedures,
but as an aid in selecting the proper
type of surface preparation and
application for a particular design
requirement or service condition.

COST OF SURFACE PREPARATION

The major cost of a coating system
is not the coating material itself,
but the cost of labor for surface
preparation and application of
the coating system. The cost
breakdown of a typical coating
operation will normally fall within
percentage ranges listed in Table I:
TABLE I - COATING SYSTEM
Application Labor

30 - 60%

Surface Preparation

15 - 40%

Coating Material

15 - 20%

Clean-up Labor

5 - 10%

Tools and Equipment

2 - 5%

In recent years, both application

and surface preparation costs
have escalated much more rapidly
than the cost of coating materials.
It is estimated that labor costs
will continue to increase faster
than materials and the difference
between the two will, therefore,
become even greater. These cost
factors further underscore the
advisability of evaluating, specifying
and controlling the surface preparation
and application on every coating
project where high performance and
long-term protection are expected.

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF CARBON STEEL

and/or water-based cleansing

agents. Reference SSPC-SP COM.

The surface preparation required

for different types of coating
systems to be applied over carbon
steel will vary considerably
depending on the type of coating
as well as the service environment.
The Society for Protective Coatings
(SSPC), NACE International (NACE),
American Water Works Association
(AWWA) and the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) all
make reference to various standards
that define degrees and methods
of surface preparation. The most
widely used surface preparation
specifications are those published
in Steel Structures Painting Manual,
Vol. 2, Systems and Specifications.
Given below is a brief description
of the various SSPC/NACE joint
surface preparation standards. It is
recommended that you refer to the
SSPC or NACE standards for the
complete text of the specifications.

SSPC-SP2 HAND TOOL CLEANING

SSPC-SP1 SOLVENT CLEANING

The removal of all visible oil,

grease, soil, drawing and cutting
compounds and other soluble
contaminants from surfaces; with
solvents or commercial cleaners
using various methods of cleaning
such as wiping, dipping, steam
cleaning or vapor degreasing.
It is generally conceded that
wiping with solvents will not
positively remove all oil, grease
and other soluble contaminants
from the surface. Therefore, a
more efficient cleaning method
such as vapor degreasing or steam
cleaning should be employed
where coatings will not tolerate
any oil, grease and other soluble
contaminants residue.
Oil, grease and other soluble
contaminants removal by solvent
cleaning is precluded in all
other SSPC/NACE Surface
Preparation Specifications; it is not
necessary to cite SSPC-SP1
separately when a higher level of
preparation is specified.
It should be noted that organic
solvents may not remove water
soluble contaminants such as acid
and alkali salts. Such contaminants
should be removed using water
4

The removal of all loose mill

scale, loose rust, loose paint and
other loose detrimental foreign
matter by the use of non-power
hand tools. Hand tool cleaning will
not remove adherent mill scale,
rust and paint. Mill scale, rust and
paint are considered adherent if
they cannot be removed by lifting
with a dull putty knife.
SSPC-SP3 POWER TOOL CLEANING

The removal of all loose mill

scale, loose rust, loose paint and
other loose detrimental foreign
matter by the use of power-assisted
hand tools. Power tool cleaning
will not remove adherent mill
scale, rust and paint. Mill scale, rust
and paint are considered adherent
if they cannot be removed by
lifting with a dull putty knife.
Power tool cleaning usually
provides a slightly higher degree of
cleanliness than hand tool cleaning,
but is not regarded as adequate
surface preparation for long-term
exterior exposure of most highperformance coating systems.
SSPC-SP5/NACE 1 WHITE METAL
BLAST CLEANING

The complete removal of all visible

oil, grease, dirt, dust, mill scale, rust,
paint, oxides, corrosion products and
other foreign matter by compressed
air nozzle blasting, centrifugal
wheels or other specified method.
SSPC-SP6/NACE 3 COMMERCIAL
BLAST CLEANING

The removal of all visible oil,

grease, dirt, dust, mill scale, rust,
paint oxides, corrosion products
and other foreign matter by
compressed air nozzle blasting,
centrifugal wheels or other
specified method. Discoloration
caused by certain stains shall be
limited to no more that 33 percent
of each unit area. Unit area is
approximately 9 sq. in. (5776 sq. mm).
SSPC-SP7/NACE 4 COMMERCIAL
BLAST CLEANING

A brush-off, blast-cleaned surface,

when viewed without magnification,

shall be free of all visible oil, grease,

dirt, dust, loose mill scale, loose rust
and loose coating. Tightly adherent
mill scale, rust and coating may
remain on the surface. Mill scale,
rust and coating are considered
tightly adherent if they cannot be
removed by lifting with a dull putty
knife. The entire surface shall be
subjected to the abrasive blast.
The remaining mill scale, rust or
coating shall be tight. When coating
is specified, the surface shall be
roughened to a degree suitable for
the specified coating system. Prior to
coating application, the surface shall
comply with the degree of cleaning
as specified herein. Visual standards
of comparators may be specified to
supplement the written definition.
In any dispute, the written standards
shall take precedence over visual
standards and comparators.
SSPC-SP8 PICKLING

The complete removal of all rust,

mill scale and foreign matter by
chemical reaction or electrolysis
in acid solutions. The degree of
cleanliness is similar to SSPCSP5/NACE 1 White Metal Blast
Cleaning.
SSPC-SP10/NACE 2 NEAR-WHITE
METAL BLAST CLEANING

The removal of all visible oil,

grease, dirt, dust, mill scale, rust,
paint, oxides, corrosion products
and other foreign matter by
compressed air nozzle blasting,
centrifugal wheels or other specified
method. Discoloration caused by
certain stains shall be limited to no
more than 5 percent of each unit
area. Unit area is approximately
9 sq. in. (5776 sq. mm).
SSPC-SP11 POWER TOOL CLEANING
TO BARE METAL

The removal of all visible oil,

grease, dirt, mill scale, rust, paint,
oxide, corrosion products, and other
foreign matter. Slight residues of
rust and paint may be left in the
lower portion of pits if the original
surface is pitted. Differs from SSPCSP3 in that it requires more thorough
cleaning and a surface profile
not less than 1 mil (25 microns).
Although not equivalent, this method
is used for areas where abrasive
blasting is prohibited or not feasible.

SSPC-SP12/NACE 5 SURFACE
PREPARATION BY WATER JETTING

Surface preparation and cleaning

of steel and other hard materials
by high- and ultra-high pressure
water jetting to achieve various
degrees of surface cleanliness
prior to recoating. This standard
is limited in scope to the use of
water only without the addition of
solid particles in the stream. Refer
to the full standard for all details
regarding this preparation method.
DEGREE OF CLEANLINESS VS. COATING
PERFORMANCE
Abrasive blast cleaning as defined
in SSPC specifications in SSPC
specifications SSPC-SP5/NACE 1,
SSPC-SP6/NACE 3 and SSPCSP10/NACE 2 is often regarded as
the preferred method of surface
preparation for carbon steel.
Experience has proven that a given
coating system, applied over a
properly blast-cleaned or pickled
surface, will cost less per square
foot per yard than the same system
applied over hand or power tool
cleaned surfaces. Table II shows
comparative cost in relationship to
coating performance. These figures
are based on the typical service life
of a two-coat alkyd system applied
to ground level, new structural
steel in a mild (rural) atmospheric
environment. Paint material costs
are not included in the figures.
TABLE II
COSTS VS. COATING PERFORMANCE
2-Coat
Surface
Years of Preparation Application
Preparation Service $/Sq. Ft. $/Sq. Ft.

Total
$/Sq. Ft.
$/Sq. Ft. Per Year

SSPC-SP6
Commercial
Blast

10.5

1.35

0.65

2.00

0.19

SSPC-SP3
Power Tool
Cleaning

6.0

0.85

0.65

1.50

0.25

The costs referenced in Table II

are approximate, based on 2005
data from painting contractors
representing four regions of
the country.
METHOD OF ABRASIVE BLAST CLEANING
The SSPC Specification for abrasive
blast cleaning lists a number of
alternative blast cleaning methods.
The two most widely used are
compressed air nozzle blast cleaning
and centrifugal wheel blast cleaning.
Since either method is capable of
producing the same quality of
surface preparation, both are equally
acceptable for coating applications. An
increasing quantity of shop-fabricated
structural, plate and miscellaneous
steel is now prepared by centrifugal
wheel blast cleaning equipment
because of speed, production capacity
and cost advantage of this method.
Also, portable centrifugal wheel blast
cleaning units can be transported to
the jobsite and set up to process
fabricated structural steel and plate
assemblies as they are scheduled
for erection.
Vacuum blasting is used in areas
where the amount of abrasive dust
created by compressed air nozzle
blasting cannot be tolerated.
However, it is recommended that
motors, bearings and moving parts
close to the work be protected by
wrapping with tape.
Other methods of abrasive blast
cleaning are not discussed here
because of their more limited or
specialized applications. Each
has its own advantages and
limitations which would merit its
consideration for certain specialized
types of work.
DETERMINING SURFACE CLEANLINESS
The cleanliness of abrasive blastcleaned steel can be determined by
comparison with SSPC-Vis-1 pictorial
standards. To avoid interpretations
resulting from color and profile
variations due to different types
of steel and abrasive media, small

steel panels can be abrasive blastcleaned and used as representative

samples of the work. These panels
should be securely wrapped in
clear plastic to protect them from
deterioration.
MEASURING SURFACE PROFILE
It is generally agreed that the
surface profile contributes to the
adhesion and performance of most
zinc-rich coatings, tank linings and
other high performance systems.
Surface profile can be closely
predetermined by the selection
of the type and size of abrasive
from the tables contained in SSPC
and NACE Surface Preparation
Specifications or from the abrasive
suppliers data.
A number of devices are
available for measuring surface
profile. However, it should be
noted that different types of test
equipment will not necessarily
give comparable readings and
cannot be used for comparative
purposes. Therefore, it is necessary
to determine what test equipment
is to be used if duplicate readings
will be taken for verification or
approval. Two methods that seem
to be reliable and consistent are
the Keane-Tator Surface Profile
Comparator and Testex Press-OFilm (Reference NACE RP0287).
In the first method, examination
is made using a 5X lens and a
penlight, which is held at an angle
to highlight the surface profile. It
is usually sufficient to determine
that the height of the profile lies
between two gauge readings,
such as between 1S70 and 2S70
(approximately 1.0 - 2.0 mils). The
latter utilizes a tape that is rubbed
on the surface to form an exact
reverse image of the profile. The
replica is then measured with
a micrometer.

SELECTION OF ABRASIVE MEDIA

Where a sharp angular profile
is desired, a sharp, hard abrasive
must be used such as silica
sand, or a synthetic abrasive of
equivalent hardness. Copper
smelter slag or soda-lime-silica
glass is recommended when a
nearly dust-free environment is
desired. A recyclable mix that is
often accepted consists of not
more than three parts chilled
iron shot and one part of chilled
iron grit. Recycled cast iron and
malleable iron shot and grit, or 100
percent chilled shot are regarded
as unsatisfactory for producing a
sharp angular profile, but may be
used where this type of profile is
not required.
REMOVAL OF DUST FROM ABRASIVE
BLAST-CLEANED SURFACES
Dust and blast products should be
removed from the surface of abrasive
blasted steel by high-pressure air,
vacuum cleaning or brushing.
CONTAMINATION OF ABRASIVE
BLAST-CLEANED SURFACES
The greatest danger of
contamination during abrasive
blast cleaning is from oil and
moisture. Compressed air used
for nozzle blasting should be
periodically checked to verify that
it is clean, dry and oil-free
(Reference ASTM D 4285). Oil and
water separators, traps or other
equipment may be necessary to
achieve clean, dry air.
Fabricated steel is sometimes not
solvent-cleaned prior to abrasive
blast cleaning on the assumption
that oil and grease will be removed
by the blast cleaning process.
Experience has shown that this is
not always the case. Also, if proper
quality control procedures are not
employed during centrifugal wheel
blast cleaning, the recycled abrasive
may pick up oil, so that in time the
abrasive itself will contaminate the
steel being cleaned.
Oil contamination of a blastcleaned surface is very difficult
to detect visually or by ultraviolet light examination. The best
protection against oil contamination
is taking remedial measures to
6

prevent its occurrence. If the

blast-cleaned surface becomes
contaminated by oil, grease, hand
prints or other foreign matter, it
should be solvent-cleaned and then
reblasted according to the original
specifications to ensure the same
degree of surface cleanliness.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Abrasive blast-cleaned surfaces
should be coated before any visible
rust forms on the surface. For this
reason, it is recommended that
abrasive blast cleaning be
performed only when the relative
humidity is no higher than 85%
and the surface temperature of the
steel at its coldest point is at least
5 F. above the temperature of the
dew point. Some specifiers may
include a time/humidity table in
their specifications to ensure that
the abrasive blast-cleaned surface is
coated before flash rusting occurs.
The general practice is that no
more surface be prepared for
painting than can be coated in a
single shift.
PREPARATION OF WELDS
Preparation of welds should
be scheduled ahead of surface
preparation. This work can be
best handled by the metal trades
connected with fabrication or
erection, especially when code
inspection and certification are
involved. Weld spatter and slag
can be removed by chipping or
grinding. If the surface will be
exposed to severe environmental
conditions, it is suggested that sharp
edges and corners be rounded
to a smooth contour by grinding.
Undercuts and recesses should be
smoothed by grinding and porous
welds ground down to pinholefree metal. Remove weld flux from
the surface by washing with water
(Reference NACE RP0178).
STEEL AND FABRICATION DEFECTS
Steel and fabrication defects
revealed by surface preparation such
as weld imperfections, delaminations,
scabs and slivers should be corrected
before proceeding further with
surface preparations.

INACCESSIBLE AREAS
It is not possible to properly
prepare and apply a protective
coating behind rafters or skipwelded lap joints, or in between
back-to-back angle iron bracing.
These inaccessible areas should be
coated before assembly or they will
continue to erode away in a
corrosive environment, leaving rust
stains on the exposed coated surface
below. In an aggressively corrosive
environment, coated surfaces
adjacent to these areas will actually
be undercut and fail due to the
corrosive action taking place in
these inaccessible areas. Therefore,
if total protection of the surface is
mandatory, all surface voids should
be seal-welded and back-to-back
bracing and tank rafters either
coated before assembly or
eliminated from the design and
construction. Sharp corners and
edges should be ground to a smooth
contour and welds prepared as
suggested in NACE RP0178. (See
Weld Preparation.)

SURFACE PREPARATION OF
DUCTILE AND CAST IRON
The overall performance of
coating systems is directly related
to the adhesion developed by the
prime coat to the substrate. Most
coatings do not achieve optimum
adhesion when applied to hard,
slick substrates. Adhesion, therefore,
is largely dependent on a method
of surface preparation that produces
both surface cleanliness and surface
profile (surface roughness).
The Society for Protective Coatings
(SSPC) and NACE International
abrasive blast cleaning surface
preparation specifications (SP5/
NACE 1, SP6/NACE 3, etc.)
were developed for carbon steel
substrates. Based on information
provided by the Ductile Iron Pipe
Research Association (DIPRA) and
Tnemec laboratory testing, it has
been learned that the manufacturing
and processing differences between
carbon steel and cast iron preclude
using SSPC and NACE surface
preparation specifications for steel
when preparing cast iron. Indeed,
it is possible to overblast certain
types of cast iron (ductile iron,
white iron, gray iron, etc.) which

could result in reduced long-term

system performance.

The National Association of Pipe

Fabricators has published surface
preparation standards for ductile iron
pipe and cast ductile iron fittings.
These standards (NAPF 500-03) can
be referenced along with Tnemec
Technical Bulletin No. 98-15.

cleaning in accordance with SSPCSP1. White rust should be removed

from galvanized steel by hand or
power brushing. Care should be
taken not to damage or remove the
galvanizing. Rust should be removed
from old galvanized steel by hand
or power tool cleaning in accordance
with SSPC-SP2 or SP3.
Under moderate to severe conditions
such as exterior exposure, chemical
environments, etc., abrasive blast
cleaning or chemical treatment to
increase mechanical adhesion are often
the preferred methods of surface
preparation (Reference ASTM D 6386).
For specific recommendations,
contact your Tnemec representative
or Tnemec Technical Services at
1-800-TNEMEC1 (Reference
Technical Bulletin No. 98-09).

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF STAINLESS STEEL

SURFACE PREPARATION OF
CONCRETE AND MASONRY

In benign environments, stainless

steel may require only solvent
cleaning prior to coating, using
any one of the methods in SSPCSP1. Only solvents and cleaning
solutions containing less than
200 ppm of hologens should be
used to prevent stress corrosion
cracking. Under severe conditions
such as exterior exposure, chemical
environments, etc., the substrate
should be abrasive blasted to
increase mechanical adhesion of
the coating system. The height
of the profile and the texture
required should be defined for the
operator and as a standard for the
acceptance of the work.
Pictorial standards for the surface
cleanliness of carbon steel are not
applicable to stainless steel since
there are no corrosion products or
mill scale to remove from the surface.
Only very hard abrasive media should
be used for a fast cutting action and
to obtain a sharp angular profile.

The type of surface preparation

required for concrete and masonry
is dependent upon the type of
coating system to be applied and
the intended service of the vessel
or structure. NACE International,
the Society for Protective Coatings,
the International Concrete Repair
Institute and the American Society
for Testing and Materials all
reference various methods of
surface preparation. Following are
surface preparation suggestions
and brief descriptions of some of
the practices recommended by
NACE, SSPC, ICRI and ASTM.

Depending on the process used to

manufacture cast iron, anchor profile
after casting is often higher than
what would be achieved by abrasive
blast cleaning carbon steel. Abrasive
blast cleaning is, therefore, not
always necessary to achieve
optimum adhesion to cast iron
substrates. Better, more efficient
surface preparation methods can
often be recommended.

SURFACE PREPARATION OF
GALVANIZED STEEL AND
OTHER NON-FERROUS METALS
Surfaces should be clean and dry.
Remove dust and dirt by blowing
off the surface with high pressure
air or wiping clean with dry rags.
Oil, grease, protective mill coatings,
and other soluble contaminants
should be removed by solvent

SSPC-SP13/NACE 6 Surface
Preparation of Concrete: This
standard gives requirements for
surface preparation of concrete by
mechanical, chemical, or thermal
methods prior to the application of
protective coating and lining systems.
ICRI Guideline No. 03732: This
guide provides designers, specifiers,
contractors and manufacturers with the
tools to select and specify the methods
for preparing concrete surfaces prior
to the application of sealers, coatings
and polymer overlay systems.
TESTING FOR MOISTURE CONTENT
New concrete and masonry
should not be coated for at least
28 days to permit the concrete
or mortar to cure and dry out

unless otherwise directed by the

manufacturer. Free water and
soluble alkaline salts remaining
in the concrete may contaminate
coatings or eventually cause
delamination, blistering, peeling
and/or efflorescence staining. For
this reason, concrete should be
visually inspected and tested for
moisture content before painting.

Tape
Heavy Gauge
Plastic Film
Damp spots, efflorescence or
white salts appearing on the
surface are obvious indicators of
moisture. Hidden dampness can be
checked by using a polyethylene
cover test. A heavy gauge plastic
film, approximately 18 in. square
and 4.0 mils thick, is securely
taped to a small section of the
concrete. Pieces of test film should
be placed at various locations
that are likely to be slow drying,
such as below grade, low spots in
floors, inside corners and lower
wall areas. The polyethylene sheet
is checked after 24 hours for
beads of moisture. If condensation
appears on the back side of the
film, or if the concrete under
the film appears to be darker,
damp or wet, this would indicate
the presence of moisture in the
concrete. Reference ASTM D 4263
for the complete procedure prior
to proceeding. Should moisture be
detected, perform Standard Test
Method for Measuring Moisture
Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete
Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium
Chloride (Reference ASTM F 1869).
Moisture content is not to exceed
three pounds per 1,000 sq.ft. in a
24-hour period.
REPAIR OF SURFACE DEFECTS AND
REMOVAL OF CONTAMINANTS
The surface to be coated should
be examined for defects such as
fins, protrusions, bulges and mortar
spatter. These defects should be
corrected by grinding or scraping.
Repair of surface defects includes
7

patching voids and cracks that will

cause discontinuities or unsightly
appearance in the coating, and
using a patching compound that is
compatible with the coating system.
Remove non-degraded release agents,
fats, oil, wax and grease by scraping
off heavy deposits followed by
cleaning with an appropriate solvent
or washing with a hot trisodium
phosphate solution, using 2 lbs. of
trisodium phosphate to each gallon
of hot water (160 F.). Repeat the
cleaning operation until the
contamination is removed and flush
the area with clean water to remove
residual cleaning solution. If TSP
cleaning solution does not provide
adequate results, consult a reputable
supplier of chemical cleaners to
provide assistance in choosing an
adequate alternative. Always ensure
that the cleaning solution is
maintained at a constant temperature
level to keep the contaminants
soluble until they are removed. Allow
to dry thoroughly before coating.
REMOVAL OF WEAK LAITANCE
High-build, high film strength
coatings will not develop optimum
adhesion to concrete unless laitance
and other loosely bound material
are first removed from the surface.
Common methods of removal are
acid etching and abrasive blasting.
Abrasive blasting is preferred where
practical, although dust and abrasive
removal may present a problem on
some projects. Acid etching is an
economical way to prepare concrete
floors. However, is hazardous in its
application and is not recommended
for vertical or overhead surfaces.
ABRASIVE BLASTING
Abrasive blasting should be
sufficiently performed so as to
remove weak laitance and solid
contaminants. This procedure will
open up surface voids, bugholes, air
pockets, etc. Concrete substrates are
abrasive blasted to provide a clean,
sound substrate with a uniform
anchor profile, but not to erode
the surface beyond that which is
necessary. Recommended blasting
methods include dry abrasive with
air-blast, hydroblasting with an
abrasive and airless centrifugal
wheel blast, and vacuum blasting.
8

Abrasive blasting using compressed

air is the more common method of
abrasive blasting. The blasting is often
performed dry, but can incorporate
water to control dusts. The water
can be mixed with the abrasive and
used as a slurry or the water can
be injected into the abrasive at the
end of the blast nozzle. Before wet
blasting, one should consider the
schedule constraints of the project.
Time may not allow for ample drying
of the surfaces before coatings are
to be applied. The selected abrasive
must be clean and dry with a
maximum particle size that can pass
through a 16-mesh screen.
The preferred method of abrasive
blasting floors is with a portable
unit incorporating centrifugal wheel
blast using steel shot abrasive.
These units reclaim much of
the shot and subsequent dusts,
minimizing the final clean-up
before coating. The size of the
steel shot, coupled with the travel
speed of the unit, determines the
aggressiveness of the blast cleaning.
After blast cleaning, residual
abrasive, dust and other loose
particles must be removed from the
surface by vacuuming or blowing
off with clean, dry compressed
high-pressure air. Reference ASTM
D 4529, SSPC-SP13 and ICRI Guide
03732 for the complete procedures
and guidance regarding abrasive
blast cleaning.
ACID ETCHING
Acid etching is often used on
horizontal surfaces because it
provides results at a low cost. It is
impractical and dangerous to use for
vertical and overhead surfaces as it

Acid Etching

will not etch the surface uniformly

and does not have any effect on
opening voids and holes near the
surface. Typical solutions used are
muriatic (hydrochloric), phosphoric,
and citric acids.
Because its volatile, hydrochloric
acid should not be used around
sensitive mechanical or electrical
equipment. Citric acid is often used if
the acid solution will be rinsed down
stainless steel pipes.
Acid etching may not be suitable
in some situations where the
concrete surface has been power
troweled and/or a thick film
coating system has been specified.
For specific recommendations,
contact your Tnemec representative
or Tnemec Technical Services.
Residual dust and dirt should be
removed from the surface of the
concrete by thoroughly sweeping
or vacuuming.
Apply fresh water to dampen the
concrete surface, but do not
excessively wet. Remove any excess
water with brooms or rubber
squeegees. The acid solution should
be applied uniformly to the concrete
by low pressure spray equipment or
plastic sprinkling cans.
The spreading operation should
be coordinated with the rinsing
operation so that the acid is not
completely spent or has started
to dry out before the surface is
flushed with fresh water. Bubbling
should be uniformly evident and
the acid wetted area should be
scrubbed with a stiff bristle brush.
Etched concrete should be examined
for uniformity and texture, and should
have the feel of medium (100 grit)
sandpaper or compare to ICRI CSP1.
The surface should be free of surface
glaze, laitance, salts and loosely
adhering material. In many cases,
more than one acid etching operation
is required to obtain a satisfactory
profile. Reference ASTM D 4260, 4262,
4263, SSPC-SP13 or ICRI Guideline
No. 0373 for complete procedures
before proceeding.

SU RFACE PROFILE GUIDELINES

Achieving sufficient profile is
extremely important to floor topping
adhesion. It is recommended that
profile should be increased with
increasing topping thickness. Surface
profile guidelines are referenced in
the table below for resinous (organic)
flooring system.
TABLE III
SURFACE PROFILE GUIDELINES:
RESINOUS FLOORING SYSTEMS
Flo o r To p p i n g /
Ove r l a y T h i c k n e s s
0 - 3 mils
4 - 10 mils
10 - 4 0 m i l s
50 m i l s
1/8 " - 1 / 4 "

ICRI Concrete
Surface Profile No.
CSP1-3
CSP1-3
CSP3-5
CSP4-6
CSP5-9

*When inorganic or cementitious floor topping

or overlays are used, additional substrate
profile is recommended along with other
special considerations not covered herein.
Note: If rebar is exposed by degradation or
preparation, removal of concrete around entire
circumference of rebars is recommended.

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF PLASTER
Plaster should be permitted to
cure and dry out for at least 28
days before painting. Coating over
plaster that contains free water,
lime and other soluble alkaline
salts may cause delamination,
blistering, peeling, discoloration,
efflorescence or staining. If there
is a question about the moisture
content of the plaster, it should be
checked and verified following
the procedure outlined for
concrete. Give attention to areas
that are likely to slow the drying
out process.
Remove plaster nibs and other
protrusions by scraping. Grease
and oil may be removed by a
hot cleaning solution consisting
of 2 lbs. of trisodium phosphate
to each gallon of hot water. The
cleaning solution may be applied
by sponge or brush, working from
the bottom to the top of the soiled
area. The cleaning operation should
be repeated if the contaminants are

not completely removed. Flush the

cleaned surface with fresh water
and allow drying. Patch voids and
cracks with a suitable compound
that is compatible with the substrate
and coating. Sand flush with the
surface when cured or dry.

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF GYPSUM DRYWALL
CONSTRUCTION
Sand joint compound with fine
grit, open-coated sandpaper to
provide a smooth flat surface.
Avoid heavy sanding of the adjacent
wallboard surfaces, which will raise
the nap of the paper covering.
Remove dust from the surface by
wiping with clean rags or other
means. If additional joint finishing
is required to provide a smooth
surface, the same joint compound or
a ready-mixed spackling compound
should be used. Putty, patching
pencils, caulking or masking tape
should not be applied to drywall
surfaces to be painted.

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF PREVIOUSLY PAINTED
SURFACES
Whether or not overcoating is
a feasible alternative to complete
removal and repainting depends a
great deal on the condition of the
existing coating system. The amount
of corrosion present, number of
coats, adhesion between coats and
exposure conditions are some of the
factors that need to be considered
before a specifier can make an
overcoat or complete removal
decision. Tnemec Technical Bulletin
No. 98-10 R1 can be used as a
guide to assist in making complete
removal versus overcoat decisions.
Surface preparation of an existing
coating system will vary depending
on generic type, exposure conditions
and other variables. For specific
recommendations, contact your
Tnemec representative or Tnemec
Technical Services.

Lightly scuff-sand tape joints after

priming to remove raised paper
nap. Take care not to sand through
the prime coat. Remove dust by
wiping with clean rags.

SURFACE PREPARATION
OF WOOD
Wood should be clean and dry.
Remove surface deposits, sap or pitch
by scraping and wiping clean with
rags dampened with mineral spirits
or VM&P Naphta. Seal knots and
pitch pockets with shellac reduced
with equal parts of shellac thinner
(denatured alcohol) before priming.
Sand rough spots with the grain,
starting with medium grit sandpaper
and finishing with fine grit. Remove
sanding dust. After the prime coat
is dry, fill cracks and holes with a
suitable compound that is compatible
with the substrate and coating. When
filler is hard, sand flush with the
surface using the fine grit sand paper.
Sand lightly between coats with fine
grit, open-coat sandpaper.
Various surface cleaning methods are used with
power tools to remove loose rust, loose paint
and loose mill scale. Pictured above top, a
heavy-duty roto peen ap wheel, and bottom, a
power tool with a non-abrasive cup wheel.
9

APPLICATION GUIDE
While surface preparation is usually
defined and controlled by the
specification, application is frequently
specified to be performed in
accordance with the manufacturers
direction. These directions usually
include ranges or limits governing
the use of the product such as air
and surface temperature, recoat time,
spreading rate, film thickness, etc.
They also include recommendations
for various methods of application
such as brush, roller, or spray, as well
as mixing and thinning instructions.
For most types of coatings, the
manufacturers recommendations
contain more than one method of
application and the applicator has
the option of choosing the method of
application that is most economical
or best suited for a particular job.
The term application is no
longer limited to just application
methods, but has been expanded
to include a number of related
factors such as environmental
conditions, material preparation,
equipment, film characteristics,
curing and recoating. Each of these
factors has a bearing on the proper
application of the coating system.
STORAGE AND HANDLING
Facilities should be available at
the shop or jobsite for handling
and storage of coatings in
accordance with the manufacturers
recommendations. In most
instances, coatings should be
stored in a protected or enclosed
area where temperature conditions
are controlled. Excessively high
or low temperatures may affect
application properties of a coating
sufficiently so that it cannot
be properly applied until it is
brought within the recommended
storage temperature range again.
Furthermore, the physical and
chemical properties of coatings
may be adversely affected by
storage at temperature extremes.
All materials should be stored in
sealed containers prior to use. Any
material held in storage beyond
the manufacturers shelf life limits
should be withdrawn from stock
10

and disposed of in accordance with

the appropriate regulations.
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
Manufacturers data on air and
surface temperature limits and
relative humidity should be adhered
to during the application and
curing of coatings. While some
coatings will tolerate much broader
temperature and humidity ranges
than others, the application and
performance of any coating can
be adversely affected if prescribed
limits are not followed. (See Film
Characteristics Section.) Even
temperature variations within these
limits may change the application
properties of some coatings,
requiring solvent and equipment
adjustments as recommended by the
manufacturer for proper application.
Continuous recording pyrometers
and hygrometers are often employed
to monitor temperature and humidity
conditions during the application
and curing of coatings where
these factors are essential to film
formation and cure. If this type of
equipment is not available, periodic
readings can be taken with air and
surface temperature thermometers
and a sling psychrometer, and then
recorded to verify temperature and
humidity conditions which were
maintained during the coating and
curing phase.
This is not to imply that all
coatings applications must be
monitored in this manner.
However, it may be helpful to
have such instrumentation
available to settle questions
where there is doubt as to
whether the temperature and
humidity conditions are suitable
for the application of a coating.
WIND VELOCITY
Excessive wind velocity can
seriously impair spray application,
resulting in significant material
loss, low film build, excessive
dry spray or overspray, plus the
possibility of depositing airborne
spray mist on unprotected surfaces

downwind from the work. Some

of these adverse effects can be
compensated for by material and
equipment adjustments if winds are
not too high. Generally speaking,
wind velocity above 15 m.p.h. can
cause sufficient spray application
problems, in which case suspending
work until conditions improve
should be considered.
VENTILATION
Nearly all coatings contain some
type of solvent which must
evaporate from the film as part of
the drying or curing process. While
temperature plays an important
role in solvent evaporation,
ventilation is even more essential
to the process. Supplementary
ventilation, such as fans and blowers,
should be employed in confined or
enclosed areas to carry off solvents
during the evaporation stage.
DUST AND CONTAMINATION
Airborne dust and contaminants
settling on freshly applied
coatings not only produce an
unsatisfactory sandy appearance,
but also provide a critical path for
penetration of the film, shortening
the service life of the coating.
Chemical contaminants may
actually attack the film and lay
the groundwork for early failure
of the coating system. Coating
work should be scheduled to
avoid excessive dust and airborne
contaminants, or work areas
should be protected from these
adverse conditions during the
application and curing phase.
Surface accumulation of dust
and contaminants on previously
coated work should be removed
before applying succeeding coats
to prevent intercoat contamination
and loss of adhesion.
MIXING AND THINNING
Most coatings will stay in
suspension for several hours after
mixing without further stirring or
agitation. However, some are prone
to rapid settling and must be stirred

frequently or kept under constant

agitation during application. The
manufacturers direction should be
followed in these instances.
Nearly all coating materials are
subject to some degree of settling
or standing in the container, and
require stirring or mechanical
agitation before application. Some
products require the addition of
solvents to adjust the viscosity for
different methods of application
and variations in temperature. Only
the type of solvent recommended
for the coating should be used
and the material should not be
overthinned. Do not thin coatings
before initial stirring, since
some materials develop a false
thixotropic body on standing,
which breaks down to normal
viscosity with stirring or agitation.
Most coatings will stay in
suspension for several hours after
mixing without further stirring or
agitation. However, some are prone
to rapid settling and must be stirred
frequently or kept under constant
agitation during application. The
manufacturers direction should be
followed in these instances.
MULTI-COMPONENT
Multi-component products
are either packaged in double
compartment containers or separate
containers marked Part A and
Part B or some other designation
and contain the precaution not to
use without mixing all components.
Multi-component materials are
premeasured in the container so
the proper mixing ratio can be
achieved by mixing the entire
contents of each container.
The manufacturers instructions
usually recommend that the mixing
be done under agitation. With
some materials, it is important
that the components be added
in a prescribed sequence and
the procedure should not be
reversed. Thorough blending of
the components is essential for
proper performance of the coating
and power agitation is generally
recommended. Thorough blending
of two liquid components can take
1-3 minutes with the proper size
mixing blades. If a dry powder
component is added to a liquid

component, the two should be

thoroughly blended until they are
free of lumps. Usually straining is
recommended before application to
remove any undispersed material
that could clog spray equipment.
It is advisable to have someone
familiar with the product supervise the
mixing of multi-component materials.
A mixing error such as leaving out one
of the components, using the wrong
mixing ratio, insufficient mixing or
adding the wrong component, will
result in an unsatisfactory product. The
material should be discarded, unless
it is definitely known what the error
was and the mix can be corrected
to conform with the manufacturers
mixing instructions. If improperly
mixed material is applied to the
surface, it is generally necessary to
completely remove the coating and
recoat the surface with properly mixed
material. Consult the manufacturer for
their recommendation.
POT LIFE
Nearly all mixed multi-component
materials have a pot life, or time
limit, during which the mixed
material can be used. The pot
life will generally vary with
temperature and is usually much
shorter at higher temperature
ranges. Pot life limits must be
strictly observed. Care should be
taken not to mix more material
than can be applied during the
pot life. If the pot life has been
exceeded, the material should be
discarded even though it may still
look like it is satisfactory to use.
APPLICATION EQUIPMENT AND
TECHNI QUES
Application equipment and
techniques recommended by the
coating manufacturer are usually
based on test reports from the
equipment manufacturers, test
applications and field experience
gained under a variety of job
conditions. The type of equipment,
pressure settings and application
techniques recommended by the
manufacturer will usually permit
satisfactory application of the
coating under most job conditions.
Variations in equipment, pressure
settings and technique can be
made by the applicator as long as

proper atomization and application

characteristics are not affected. For
unusual or specialized applications,
it is recommended that the coating
manufacturer be consulted.
It is important that tools and
equipment be clean and in good
operating condition. Dirty tools
and equipment can be a source of
coating contamination, and broken
or worn-out equipment may not be
capable of satisfactory application.
Frequently, the material is blamed
for application problems when the
real problem is the use of wrong
or defective equipment.
FILM THICKNESS AND SPREADING RATE
Adequate film build is essential to
the satisfactory performance of
protective coatings. The coating
manufacturer will specify the spreading
rate (sq. ft. per gallon) that is required
to achieve the specified dry film
thickness. The calculations are based
on the fact that each standard U.S.
gallon (128 fluid ounces) contains
1,604 mil sq. ft. of liquid. If it is
determined that a dry film thickness
of 3.0 mils (0.003 inches) is required,
and it is known that the product
contains 54 percent solids by volume,
the theoretical spreading rate would
be calculated at 289 sq. ft. per gallon
(1604 3 X .54=288.7) and the wet
film thickness would be calculated at
5.6 mils (1604 288.7=5.55).
Calculations are usually rounded off
to the closest 5 sq. ft. and closest 0.5
mil for convenience. Theoretical
spreading rates do not include
material losses due to the method of
application or surface irregularities.
Deductions for material losses should
be made to arrive at a practical
spreading rate.
Film thicknesses and theoretical
spreading rate can be quickly
determined from Table IV on the
next page if the solids by volume
are known.
Theoretical spreading rates
may be used as a rough guide
for determining film thickness.
However, in order to assure
sufficient material is being applied,
wet film thickness readings are
often taken at random locations
immediately after application.
A Nordson Wet Film Gauge or
similar instrument may be used
11

for this purpose. The dry film can

be calculated by multiplying the
average wet film thickness by the
percent solids by volume. For
example, if the wet film averages
8.0 mils, and if the solids by
volume are 54 percent, the dry
film thickness would be calculated
at 4.3 mils (8.0 X 0.54 = 4.3).
Consideration should also be given
to variables that could have an
effect on the calculated dry film
thickness, such as loss of wet film
due to absorption into a porous
substrate, surface profile, thinning, etc.

should be more than 20 percent

below the recommended dry film
thickness. Any areas that are found
to be below standard should be
marked and recoated to obtain the
proper film thickness.
While primary concern should be
given to applying sufficient film
thickness for adequate protection,
it is sometimes equally important to
guard against applying too heavy a
coat. Excessively heavy coats may
result in runs and sags, producing
an unsightly appearance as well
as leaving weak spots in the film.
Heavy coats may also upset the
drying properties, causing wrinkling
or cracking, affect intercoat
adhesion or leave excessive
solvents trapped within the film.

Dry film thickness may be

measured on ferrous metals using
a magnetic gauge following the
procedure outlined in SSPCPA2, Section IV, Paint Thickness
Measurement. On a non-ferrous
surface, dry film thickness readings
can be taken with a Tooke Gauge
or gauges designed for non-ferrous
substrates utilizing eddy current
principles. Readings should be at
random locations at the rate of
approximately five readings per
one hundred sq. ft. of surface.
The average of all readings for a
given area or surface should be
within the dry film thickness range
specified and no individual reading

FILM CHARACTERISTICS
The object of application is to
deposit a coating on the surface
that will provide the decorative
and protective properties that
are inherent with the coating.
This requires that the coating be
uniformly applied at the prescribed
thickness, and be free of film
defects that would adversely affect
the appearance or performance.

Due to advancements in
application technology, better
applied coatings are easier to
achieve than ever before. However,
the state-of-the-art has not reached
the point where shop and field
applicators can apply coating
systems that are completely free
of defects. Furthermore, not all
film defects will adversely affect
performance and/or appearance
and many types of minor defects
would not be a basis for rejection
of the work or even necessitate
touch-up or repair. Also, there
are differences in the acceptance
criteria for a decorative coating,
where appearance is the primary
factor, and a protective coating,
where performance is the most
important consideration. Therefore,
it is important that the inspection
and acceptance criteria be defined
in advance for the applicator. If dry
film thickness measurements are
to be taken or Holiday Detector
Tests run, it should be established
what type of test equipment is to
be used, where and how many
readings are to be taken, who will
perform the inspection and what
kind of inspection records are to
be kept.

Table IV
1 Start by locating the
correct solids by volume
line on the left-hand
side of the chart.

SQUARE FEET PER GALLON

1600 800 600

100

400

300

200

150

100

90

75

80

PERCENT SOLIDS BY VOLUME

70
60

50

50
40
30

25

3 To determine the
spreading rate at a given
mil thickness, follow the
solids by volume line
across until it intersects
with the correct film
thickness line and locate
the closest spreading
rate diagonal.
4 Extrapolate values
in-between lines.

20
10
0
0

10

MILS DRY FILM

12

2 To determine the mil

thickness for a given
spreading rate, follow
the solids by volume line
across to where it intersects with the correct
spreading rate diagonal
line and read down.

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Defining the acceptance standards

for the appearance of a coating
is more difficult. Often times, the
specification language emphasizes
what coating characteristics are
not acceptable rather than what is
acceptable. For example: Finish
coats shall be free of runs, sags,
skipped and missed areas, etc.
This is often backed up with the
requirement that a small area of
a room be coated and approved
before proceeding with the rest of
the job.
This procedure points out the
need for a common language
to describe film characteristics
in order to avoid costly
misunderstandings and delays
in dealing with shop or field
applications. Table VI on the next
page lists a number of common
film characteristics and gives their
probable causes as well as various
methods of correction. The term
Film Characteristics rather than
Defects was chosen intentionally
and no implication is made that
any of the conditions listed would
necessarily constitute defective
work or form a basis for rejection.
HOLIDAY TESTING
If required by the project
specifications, holiday testing
should be performed in accordance
with NACE RP0188. For coating
thicknesses less than 20.0 mils DFT,
use a Tinker & Rasor low voltage
Model M/1 Holiday Detector, or
equal. For coating thicknesses
greater than 20.0 mils DFT, high
voltage discontinuity (spark)
testing shall be performed using a
Tinker & Rasor AP/W High Voltage
Holiday Tester. As a general rule,
voltages are set between 100125 volts per dry mil of coating.
Contact Tnemec Technical Service
for voltage recommendations and
curing parameters prior to testing.
CURING AND RECOATING
So many of todays coatings
achieve film formation by
such complex mechanisms as
coalescence, hydrolysis and
chemical conversion, that the term
drying is hardly appropriate
to describe these phenomena.

Gradually, the term is being

replaced by the word curing to
refer to the interphase between wet
film and dry or fully-cured film.
Table V lists the four phases of
curing that are typically referenced.
TABLE V
1. To TouchThe point at which
the film will no longer pick
up on the finger when lightly
touched.
2. To Handle (or dry-through
time)The point at which
a coating will not loosen,
wrinkle, detach or distort when
maximum downward thumb
pressure is exerted and the
thumb is turned.
3. To RecoatThe point at which
the film is sufficiently cured to
receive the next coat without
adverse effects.

Type II Dry Film Thickness Gauge

4. Full CureThe point at which

the film initially reaches its
full physical and chemical
properties and is ready to be
placed in service.
The time it normally takes
to reach these various phases
in the curing cycle at ambient
temperature will be provided
by the coating manufacturer.
Variations in film thickness,
temperature, humidity and air
movement during the curing
cycle will affect the actual length
of time of each of these phases.
Therefore, the time factor alone
cannot be relied upon completely
for determining when a coating
is sufficiently cured to handle,
to touch, to recoat or when it
reaches full cure and is ready to
place in service.

Wet Mil Gauge

Some coatings, such as coal

tar-epoxies, have a maximum
recoat time and must be
topcoated within this time limit
for proper intercoat adhesion and
performance properties. If, for
some reason, the maximum recoat
time is exceeded, the manufacturer
should be consulted before
proceeding to prevent possible
problems or costly failures.

13

Table VI
Characteristic/
Description

Probable
Cause

Alligatoring-

1. Incompatibility of
topcoat and underlm,
or coating over a soft
underlm.

1. Remove failed coating and

recoat with compatible
system suitable for exposure
conditions. Do not topcoat
until underlm is dry
enough to recoat.

1. Rapid volitization of
solvents within the lm.

1. Level surface defects

by sanding and reapply
coating at lower air or
surface temperature, or add
slower solvent to increase
open time of wet lm.

Cross-hatch pattern of
surface cracking.

Bubbling-

Bubbles on the surface

of the fried lm. May be
microscopic in size.

Cracking-

Visible cracks through the

surface of the lm.

Characteristic/
Description

Probable
Cause

Flatting-

1. Rain, fog, high humidity,

or damp surfaces.

1. Recoat when surface is dry

and weather conditions are
satisfactory.

2. Overthinning or use of
wrong solvent.

2. Remove coating if lm
properties or adhesion are
affected and recoat with
properly thinned material.

Loss of gloss.

1. Uneven lm build between 1. Recoat decient work,

roller- and brush-applied
apply heavier wet lm
work.
or an additional coat on
new work.
1. Insufcient number of
coats or low lm build.

Color, texture or hiding

variations when rollerapplied surfaces join work
cut in with a brush.

2. Air displacement resulting from absorption of

wet lm into porous
substrate.

2. Bridge or ll voids by
applying a mist coat, a
ller or sealer.

(Poor) Hiding-

3. Urethanes in contact
with moisture.

3. Remove bubbles by sanding

and reapply coating at a
lower relative humidity.
Allow coating to cure before
contacting moisture.

Holidays-

1. Stress or compression
cracking of rigid substrate.

1. Patch cracks and recoat.

2. Bending or flexing of
non-rigid substrates.

2. Replace with coating having

sufcient exural strength
to tolerate condition.

3. Physical damage:
impact, heat, cold,
exposure, etc.

3. Replace with coating that

will tolerate physical
conditions.

4. Surface freezing of fresh

latex coatings.

4. Recoat when air and surface

temperatures are above
minimum recommendations.

Uneven color or shadowy

appearance of topcoat.

Lapping
(Lap Marks)-

Color, sheen or texture

variations where one freshly
painted area overlaps another.

Orange Peel-

1. Insufcient atomization.

1. Sand smooth and recoat after

adjusting material, equipment
and technique to obtain better
ow and leveling.

Overspray-

1. Deected spray mist that

settles on dry or partially
dry coated surfaces.

1. Sand smooth and recoat using

proper application technique
and lap time. Protect dry lm
from overspray.

1. Solvent migration
through the lm after the
lm has begun to set.
(Also see Bubbling
and Cratering.)

1a. If occasional pin holes are

detected, touch-up or recoat.

Fine pebbled surface texture

on spray-applied coating.

See Cracking.

Rough sandy areas on

spray-applied work.

Delamination-

1. Dust, dirt, contamination, dry spray.

1. Remove coating not tightly

bonded, clean surface and
recoat.

Peeling-

2. Water migration through

porous substrates.

2. Correct cause of water

migration, remove coating
not tightly bonded and
recoat.

Dry Spray-

Rough, sandy surface

texture on spray-applied
coating.

4. Topcoat incompatible
with underfilm.

4. Completely remove coating

and recoat with compatible
system.

1. Spray particles partially

dry before reaching
surface.

1. Sand smooth and adjust

material, equipment and
techniques for prevailing
temperature and humidity
conditions.

1b. Work smaller areas to reduce

lap time.
1. Remove failed coating and
recoat at recommended lm
thickness. Add additional
solvent or slower solvent to
retard drying during hot, dry
weather.

See Cracking.

3. Remove coating not tightly

bonded, abrade surface and
recoat. (See Manufacturer's
instruction.)

1a. Adjust material, equipment

and technique for weather
conditions.

1. Excessive lm build or
hot, dry weather.

Cross-hatched pattern of
surface cracking.

Crazing-

3. Underfilm allowed to
cure beyond maximum
recoat time.

1. First area painted has

set up before overlap
was made.

Mud Cracking-

1. See Bubbling.

Loss of adhesion to
substrate or between coats
(inter-coat adhesion).

1. See Framing. (Note: Some

colors have weak hiding properties and require an additional
coat for satisfactory hiding.)
1. Touch-up or recoat.

Skipped or missed areas.

1. Caused when bubbles

break.

Fine line cracking forming a

network or overall pattern.

Correction

Framing-

Cratering-

Round V- or U- shaped thin

spots or voids.

14

Correction

See Delamination.

Pinholing-

Small holes or
discontinuities in the lm.
May be microscopic.

1b. If pinholing is a general

surface condition, it indicates
that coating was applied
and cured under adverse
environmental conditions.
Apply a thin or mist coat to
ll surface voids, followed
by a full wet coat when
environmental conditions
are suitable for recoating.

Table VI
Characteristic/
Description

Probable
Cause

Roller Tracks-

1. Use of long nap roller

cover on smooth
surfaces.

(a.) V-shaped texture

pattern on roller-applied
surfaces (chicken tracks)
or (b.) Lines at edge of
roller passes.

Correction
1. Change to shorter nap
roller cover.

2. Material not properly

thinned.

2. Make solvent adjustment

to improve flow and
leveling.

3. Material not rolled out

properly.

3. Use proper applicator

technique.

Runs-

1. Excessive film build.

Sags-

1. See Runs.

1. See Runs.

Sandy
(Appearance)-

1. Dust and dirt contamination of the wet film.

1. Sand smooth and recoat.

Protect freshly painted
areas against dust and dirt
contamination or suspend
painting operations until
environmental conditions
are satisfactory.

Shadowing-

1. See Hiding.

1. See Hiding.

Solvent Trap-

1. Excessive film build.

1. Try to drive solvents out

of film by force-drying,
(see manufacturers data),
test for hardness and
adhesion. If film will not
adhere or cure properly,
remove and recoat.

Heavy V-shaped or pencil

shaped vertical build-ups
on surface of coating.
Heavy U-shaped build-ups
or horizontal lips on the
surface of coatings. (Long
sags may also be referred
to as curtains.)

Dull, rough appearance

of film.

See Hiding.

Residual solvents
remaining within film.

Streaking-

Areas having a rough texture on spray surface.

2. Low temperature curing.

2. Same as 1.

1. Equipment malfunction
or use of wrong
equipment.

1. Sand smooth and recoat

after correcting equipment
malfunction or change to
recommended equipment
if wrong equipment was
being used.

2. Spray passes not properly lapped.

2. Sand smooth and recoat

using proper applicator
technique.

See Flatting.

Formation of wrinkle
pattern on top of film.

Tnemec is indebted to the members and technical

committees of the various professional and technical
organizations listed below. Their contribution to
the advancement of the coating industry has made it
possible for us to assemble the information contained
in this guide:
American National Standards Institute
American Society of Testing and Materials
American Water Works Association
Construction Specification Institute
International Concrete Repair Institute

Water SpottingWrinkling-

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NACE International
1. Excessive film build.

1. Sand smooth and recoat

at proper film thickness.

2. Slow drying conditions.

2. Sand smooth and recoat

when drying conditions
are satisfactory.

Society for Protective Coatings

Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry
Water and Waste Equipment Manufacturers
Association, Inc.
Water Environmental Federation
Tnemec believes in working hand-in-hand with
professionals in these various fields and maintains
active membership and technical representation in
all of the above organizations.
15

no tic e . C o nt ac t y o ur T ne me c r e p r e se n ta tiv e for cur r e nt t ec hn ica l d a ta an d in str uct io n s. Tnemec Company Inc. 2005

Printed in USA YAPP003 S20M405

The te ch ni ca l d a ta co nta i ne d he r e i n is ac cur at e to t he b e st of o ur kn owl e dg e. P ub lish e d t echnical data and instr uctions are subject to change without

T N E M E C

I N C O R P O R A T E D

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C O M P A N Y

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TEL: 816 483-3400