Military Vehicles, March 1997,: Re: corrosion protection

Re: corrosion protection

Rolf Sigurd Ask/Editor (mud-snow@online.no)
Wed, 26 Mar 1997 21:57:39 -0500

Since I have ben away at work for a while, this may be to late to deabte any
further but her it is anyway.

My profession is surfaceprotection on steel, and mostly for oilplattforms
and ships, and I am dealing with zinc almost everyday.
The most important ting to remember (except from protecting youself) is to
make a surface that will hold the zink to it. The best way, if not the only
one usefull, is sandblasting. You also have to remember to clean off all
dirt before you start the sandblasting. If there is oil and other greasy
dirt on the object, it can be 'blasted' into the steel, and you will be
troubled with it later.

The zinc we use, and that is aprowed to be used in the Northsee, is both
'powder zinc1' and 'epoxy zinc'
For Torfinn S=F8rnes in Norway he could got hold of some 'Barrier' (epoxy
zinc)from Jotun on a Shipyard or any other place where they are building
ships or plattforms. The Barier is a very good zinc and it can be brushed
on or spryed on. But do remember what Douglas Greville said, it wont work
if it is to thick. A coating of about 1/10 of a mm will do.

The zinc it self does protect the steel, but to hold and to last it requires
a coating over (Jotuns 'Jotamastic' is good) to seal the zinc. These to
coatings are both 2 components. On top of this as a finish you can use a 1
component paint in the color you would like. In Norway the MV-society 'HMK'
can apply you with a olive drab 'arcanol' paint. Just remember that if you
are using it under your car, it may be to 'hard' to take the punishment from
rocks and other obstacles that will come in 'your way'. Therfore it is
recomended to use a 'underbody protection coating' as Douglas wrote it.

The best thing to do anyhow, is to speek with someone near you that knows
about painting before you starts.

Best regards
Rolf S. Ask