Some pipeline geometries refuse to fit a coating plant
Plant-applied powder coatings are excellent — but they can't reach a girth weld between two pipe sections in the desert, or coat a one-off custom fitting in a refinery yard, or rehab a damaged pipeline section in service. For all of those cases, we use liquid epoxy.
Liquid epoxy is a two-component, ambient-cure system that we can spray, brush or roll in the plant or at your site. After mixing, the resin and curative chemically cross-link to form a hard, chemically-resistant film that, when applied to specification, performs comparably to factory-applied coatings.
We carry both 100%-solids (solvent-free) and high-solids formulations. Single-coat builds up to 800 µm are achievable for the most demanding projects.
What we use it for
- Field girth weld coating — protecting on-site welded joints between coated pipe sections
- Valves, bends, tees and custom fittings — full coverage on irregular geometry
- Pipeline rehabilitation and patch repairs — restoring damaged areas without re-coating
- Storage tank linings — chemical-resistant protection for crude, water, brines
- Concrete substrates — secondary containment, bunds, splash zones
- Splash and tidal zones — offshore platforms, jetties, harbour fittings
What you get
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Single-coat DFT | 400-800 µm |
| Service temperature | up to 95 °C standard; 120-150 °C high-grade |
| Cure @ 25 °C | tack-free 4-6 h, full cure 7 days |
| Cure @ 70 °C | full cure 60-90 min |
| Pot life @ 25 °C | 30-50 min |
| Mix ratio | 3:1 or 4:1 by volume |
| Pull-off adhesion | ≥ 10 MPa |
| Holiday test | 4-5 V/µm DC |
How it's built
Part A: bisphenol-A or novolac epoxy resin, with pigments, extenders and rheology modifiers. Part B: polyamine or polyamide curing agent.
100%-solids systems contain zero solvent — ideal for confined-space tank work and potable-water service. High-solids systems contain ≤ 15% VOC for situations where appearance matters and ventilation is good.
Standards we apply to
- ISO 21809-3 — field-applied liquid coatings for pipelines
- AWWA C210 — liquid epoxy lining for steel water pipes
- ISO 12944-5 — protective paint systems (atmospheric, C5 environments)
- NORSOK M-501 — surface preparation and coating, offshore
- NACE SP0188 — discontinuity testing of new protective coatings
Our field application workflow
- Surface prep — Sa 2½ blast (Sa 3 for immersion), 50-100 µm profile
- Mechanical mix Part A and Part B for 2-3 minutes
- Spray (airless preferred), brush or roll within the pot life
- Wet-film thickness check during application
- Post-cure DFT measurement and 100% holiday detection on critical service
- Observe minimum cure schedule before back-fill or putting the line back in service
Things buyers usually ask
Can liquid epoxy match factory-applied coatings? For most properties, yes — when applied to specification with proper surface prep. For 3LPE-class mechanical strength, plant-applied multilayers remain superior.
How long before we can back-fill a buried field joint? Minimum 4 hours at 25 °C with rapid-cure formulations; typically 24 hours with standard cures. The joint can be over-wrapped with a heat-shrinkable sleeve as soon as it's tack-free.
Solvent-free vs solvented — which to specify? Confined-space tank work and potable water — always 100%-solids. Atmospheric topcoats where gloss and appearance matter — high-solids with solvent gives a better finish.
