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ANALYSIS
Valve Manufacturing: Qualification Requirements for Shop-Applied Internal FBE Coatings Meshari S. Al-Otaibi, Hassan S. Al-Sagour and Talmiz Ur Rehman Saudi Aramco, Dhahran – Saudi Arabia
In this paper, a group of valve manufacturers in Italy was surveyed to evaluate the root causes behind coating failures in valves with an internal FBE coating. Subsequently, the requirements of qualifying internal coatings for valves were evaluated by the end-user’s representative in Europe. The survey included 15 valve manufacturers and covered a period of 10 years, and the survey was either physical or online. The result of the survey was not expected as it revealed that none of the approved valve manufacturers had the capability to perform such a critical process in house. In all cases, the coating application was outsourced to specialized coating applicators located mainly in Milan, Italy. Furthermore, the questionnaire revealed that more than 60% of the coating applicators exhibited gaps in the process of compliance with the international standard requirements. Based on the survey, recommendations were given to improve quality control during the application of coating to valves.
F
usion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) coating is a thermosetting material
Many valve manufacturers use FBE coating as a special process for
that achieves a high bond to metal surfaces as a result of a heat
corrosion protection, especially on the wetted parts of the valves and
generated chemical reaction. FBE coatings are used for optimum
fittings for service such as potable water, saline water, sweet and
corrosion protection of metals in severe corrosive environments,
sour crude, liquid and gas etc. FBE Coatings are foreseen applicable
including saltwater, wastewater, petrochemicals, solvents and
on a range of valves such as ball, butterfly, gate, globe, check and
corrosive gases.
plug-valves etc. as per relevant industrial standards.
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N. 42 - 2022 JUNE - ipcm® Protective Coatings
