External Pipeline Coating Integrity

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• External Corrosion
• Pipeline Materials

Main Objective

We intend to systematically investigate the root-cause for coating disbondment and to optimize material properties and coating thicknesses for coating integrity via the following specific steps:
- Study of effect of surface preparation, cleanliness, anchor profile on initial coating adhesion and adhesion degradation rate
- Measurements, analysis,and modeling of the built-in residual stresses of multi-layer coatings
- Prediction of coating disbondment and Recommendation of approaches for preparation of a new generation of multi-layer pipeline coatings

Public Abstract

Multi-layer coatings are popular new construction pipeline coatings. These pipeline coatings are manufactured under high temperature conditions. As the pipeline coatings cool down, high residual stresses may be developed. The integrity of these pipeline coatings will suffer if the industry does not have a good understanding on how residual stresses in the coating layers are developed and on proper steel surface preparation to prevent premature coating disbondment. In this research a multi-disciplinary effort will be carried out to investigate the cause(s) for pipeline coating failure and to identify solutions to greatly improve its reliability and integrity. It is believed that minimization of residual stresses in the multi-layer coating and improvement of adhesive strength are two key approaches to improve coating performance. The research hopes to achieve a much better understanding on the formation of residual stresses and the prediction of multi-layer pipeline coating disbondment. These new information will also provide the industry new insights on the development of new multi-layer coatings to improve the US pipeline coating integrity.