These coatings are used to:
- add colour for aesthetic, camouflage, or safety purposes
- increase the economic life of a structure
- provide additional protection in very aggressive environments
All paint systems used should be specifically formulated for use on galvanized steel and applied in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s recommendations.
The choices of paint systems will depend upon both the application and service environment. With the decline in the use of chlorinated rubber and alkyd paints, high-build epoxy products and vinyl/vinyl co-polymer systems are increasingly utilised with glass reinforced epoxy being an option for more severe environments. In multi-coat systems the use of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) primer has been shown to give improved adhesion.
Two-pack polyurethane and acrylic urethanes are commonly used as top coats and offer good durability and colour retention. Alternatives include acrylic epoxies and polysiloxanes, the latter offering increased abrasion resistance along with good gloss and colour retention.
At present, high-build epoxies are widely used although water-based products, including polyurethanes, are now being specified. They are less tolerant of poor pre-treatment but their use could continue to grow as the Solvent Emissions Directive becomes more stringen