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TECHNICAL HELP Paint coating stainless steels

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Introduction
About Stainless
Steel Stainless steels are used because of their corrosion resistance in a wide variety of service
(/about_stainless_steel.php)environments, usually without additional coatings. In certain circumstances, however, stainless steel
FAQ (/faq.php) components or structures may require a coated (paint) finish. Examples of this may include company
colour schemes or logos, environmental blending and compatibility, and general aesthetic
Technical Library
requirements.
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Special Topics Coating systems for stainless steels must be carefully selected to provide sufficient durability to meet
(/sectors.php) the requirements of the service environment and its associated operating conditions. The
Technical Enquiries combination of surface preparation and formulation of the paint system are key factors in meeting
(/contact_technical.php) these objectives. In certain environments, localised breakdown of the coating can lead to corrosion,
which may be more severe than that experienced with un-coated surfaces and may result in high,
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localised, rates of attack.
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In general, stainless steels have flatter and smoother surfaces than carbon steels. This applies
particularly to thin cold-rolled products (sheet and coil) and may adversely affect adhesion between
Featured Articles & the metal surface and the coating system. Roughening of stainless steel surfaces prior to coating is
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essential and can usually be achieved by abrasive blasting, light hand abrasion or chemical etching.
BSSA
Surface preparation
Understanding
Stainless Steel - Abrasive Blasting
Centenary Edition
Abrasive blasting can be accomplished by using clean, fine, hard non-metallic abrasive particles
(publications.php?id=318&
(e.g. alumina or silicon carbide). The abrasive medium must be iron-free to avoid contamination,
featured=1) which can result in rust staining on the surface prior to coating and the compressed air carrying the
BSSA Stainless abrasive medium must be free of compressor oil.
Steel Surface Abrasive blasting may be readily confined to specific areas by masking. Support should be given to
Finishes Pack thin sections or cold-rolled material to avoid distortion or damage during blasting.
(publications.php?id=227& Stainless steel surfaces should be prepared to give a surface roughness Ra of approximately 50
featured=1) micron and a minimum cleanliness of grade 2 in accordance with BS 7079:Part 1A.

100 Years of Light Hand Abrasion

Stainless Steel Book
To avoid distortion to light sections light hand abrasion is an alternative method to blasting. Iron-free,
(publications.php?id=463&
320 to 400 grit abrasive media are usually satisfactory. Chemical etching treatments can also be
featured=1) considered. Certain paint manufacturers have special primers designed for such applications and it
Stay Bright - A is recommended that details of the surface to be coated are specified when seeking advice on an
appropriate coating system.

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Article: Paint coating stainless steels
History of Stainless
Steels in Britain by
David Dulieu
(publications.php?id=474&
featured=1)
BSSA Guide to
Stainless Steel
Specifications - 2nd
Edition
(publications.php?id=62&
featured=1)
Stainless Steel
Grades Datasheets
(topics.php?article=606&
featured=1)
Availability of
Stainless Steel
Grades
(topics.php?article=684&
featured=1)
Getting the Best out
of Stainless Steel
(topics.php?article=379&
featured=1)
Special Grades of
Stainless Steel -
Where to Find Them
(topics.php?article=397&
featured=1)
Duplex Stainless
Steels - A Simplified
Guide
(topics.php?article=668&
featured=1)
Fabricating Duplex
Stainless Steel
(topics.php?article=647&
featured=1)
Importance of
Surface Finish in the
Design of Stainless
Steel
(publications.php?id=97&
featured=1)
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Office and Postal Address: BSSA, Regus, Blades Enterprise Centre, John Street, Sheffield S2 4SW
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http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=119
Final Cleaning
Prior to coating, all stainless steel surfaces must be dry and free from rust, other foreign materials,
oil and grease. The presence of such contaminants may lead to failure of the coating system. Oil
and grease may be removed organic solvents, for example acetone and final drying done with a hot
air blower.
Coating application and systems
The table below gives details of paint systems suitable for coating stainless steels and, in
accordance with ISO 12944 and ISO 9223, classifies them in terms of the severity of the envisaged
service environment.
Exterior Environment Coating System
Corrosion
Category Location .
Risk
Rural and urban areas with Two pack epoxy or polyurethane primer suitable for
C3 Medium low sulphur dioxide, acid, stainless steel at 30-50 micron dry, FOLLOWED BY
alkali and salt pollution High solids polyurethane finish at 100 micron dry
Two pack epoxy or polyurethane primer suitable for
Urban and industrial areas
stainless steel at 30-50 micron dry, FOLLOWED BY
with moderate sulphur
C4 High High build epoxy MIO* at 100 mm dry, FOLLOWED
dioxide and/or coastal
BY Re-coatable polyurethane finish at 60 micron
areas with low salinity
dry
Two pack epoxy or polyurethane primer suitable for
Industrial areas with high stainless steel at 30-50 micron dry, FOLLOWED BY
C5I Very High humidity and aggressive High build epoxy MIO* at 200 micron dry (one or
atmospheres two coats), FOLLOWED BY Re-coatable
polyurethane finish at 60 micron dry
Two pack epoxy or polyurethane primer suitable for
stainless steel at 30-50 micron dry, FOLLOWED BY
Coastal and offshore areas
C5M Very High High build epoxy MIO* at 200 micron dry (one or
with high salinity
two coats), FOLLOWED BY Re-coatable
polyurethane finish at 60 micron dry
MIO = Micaeous Iron Oxide
Cleanliness is extremely important in the successful application of paint coatings to stainless steels
surfaces. Paint coatings should be applied in clean, dust-free conditions to clean, dry stainless steel
surfaces.
If the correct precautions are taken, the complete coating systems suggested in the table can be
applied in 'on-site'.
It may be preferable for some or all of the components of coating systems to be applied under paint
shop conditions, where site conditions cannot be carefully controlled. Provided the initial coating
stages are done under these conditions, then the final coat can be applied 'on-site' or after final
assembly.
The first primer coat can be followed by subsequent coats in strongly contrasting colours to ensure
complete coverage of the component or structure by the full coating system. The paint
manufacturer's instructions concerning drying times should be followed and coatings must be fully
dry before the application of subsequent coats.
Before applying new coatings to painted stainless steel, the original coating system should be
identified and advice on surface preparation obtained from the paint system manufacturer. This
should help ensure compatibility between the new and existing coating systems.
Paints that contain metallic zinc should not be used on stainless steel as embrittlement of the
stainless steel substrate can occur in the event of severe fire damage.
Before commencing any task ensure that you have received the appropriate health and safety
literature from the supplier and fully understand it. If in doubt seek advice
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Article: Paint coating stainless steels http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=119

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