SSPC-PS Guide 12.
00
March 1, 2007
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings
COATING SYSTEM GUIDE 12.00
Guide to Zinc-Rich Coating Systems
1. Scope Guide 15 Field Methods for Retrieval and
Analysis of Soluble Salts on Steel
1.1 This guide provides general information on the descrip- and other Nonporous Substrates
tion, selection, and application of zinc-rich coatings as well as PA 1 Shop, Field, and Maintenance
the selection and application (including surface preparation) Painting of Steel
of topcoats. PA 2 Measurement of Dry Coating Thick-
ness With Magnetic Gages
1.2 Zinc-rich coatings as referenced in this Guide are Paint 20 Zinc-Rich Coatings
broadly defined as coatings containing high levels of zinc such (Type I - Inorganic and Type II -
as SSPC-Paint 20 or SSPC-Paint 29. Organic)
Paint 271 Basic Zinc Chromate-Vinyl Butyral
1.3 Zinc-rich coatings are classified as follows: Wash Primer
Type IA Inorganic - post-cured, water-borne, Paint 29 Zinc Dust Sacrificial Primer,
alkali silicates Performance-Based
Type IB Inorganic - self-cured, water-borne, Paint 30 Weld-Through Inorganic Zinc
alkali silicates Primer
Type IC Inorganic - self-cured, solvent-borne, PS 12.01 One-Coat Zinc-Rich Painting
alkyl silicates System
Type IIA Organic - thermoplastic binders PS Guide 22.00 Guide for Selecting One-Coat
Type IIB Organic - thermoset binders Preconstruction or Prefabrication
Painting Systems
1.4 Zinc-rich coatings, both topcoated and untopcoated, SP 1 Solvent Cleaning
have been used successfully in a wide variety of environmental SP 5/NACE No. 1 White Metal Blast Cleaning
zones. For a detailed breakdown of applicability of various SP 6/NACE No. 3 Commercial Blast Cleaning
types of zinc-rich coatings in different environmental zones, SP 10/NACE No. 2 Near-White Blast Cleaning
see Table 1. SP 12/NACE No. 5 Surface Preparation and Cleaning
of Metals by Waterjetting Prior to
2. Description Recoating
The guide describes two types of zinc-rich coatings; how 3.2 ASTM INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS2:
to select zinc rich coating systems for either topcoated or
untopcoated service; and requirements for surface preparation, D 520 Standard Specification for Zinc Dust
application, and inspection and repair of zinc rich coatings. Pigment
D 3359 Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by
3. Referenced Standards Tape Test
D 3363 Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by
3.1 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS: Pencil Test
D 4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings
Guide 9 Guide for Atmospheric Testing of Using Portable Adhesion Testers
Coatings in the Field D 4752 Test Method for Measuring MEK Resistance
of Ethyl Silicate (Inorganic) Zinc-Rich
Primers by Solvent Rub
1
This paint contains chromate pigments. Users are urged to follow all health, safety, and environmental requirements in applying, handling,
or disposing of these materials.
2
ASTM International 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. Standards are available online at http://www.astm.org.
SSPC-PS Guide 12.00
March 1, 2007
TABLE 1
Guidelines for Surface Preparation and Topcoating
of Zinc-Rich Primers in Various Environments
Note: This table provides general guidelines only. Its use should be limited to determination of generic suitability and
minimum surface preparation requirements. There are substantial differences in performance between the various types
of zinc-rich coatings in a given environment. These recommendations provide minimum acceptable surface preparation,
primer, and topcoating requirements for the designated environmental zones. However, recommendations do not imply
equivalent system performance. For specific conditions, the coating manufacturer should be consulted.
ZINC-RICH BINDER TYPES
Environmental Zones IA IB IC IIA IIB
Untopcoated Topcoated Untopcoated Topcoated Untopcoated Topcoated Untopcoated Topcoated Untopcoated Topcoated
1A Interior,
R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP6 R-SP 6
Normally Dry
1B Exterior,
R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6
Normally Dry
2A Frequently Wet,
R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10
Fresh Water
2B Frequently Wet,
R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 NR R-SP 10 NR R-SP 10
Salt Water
2C Fresh Water
Q-SP 5 Q-SP 5 Q-SP 5 Q-SP 5 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10
Immersion
2D Salt Water
Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 10
Immersion
3A Chemical Exposure,
NR Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 10 NR Q-SP 6 NR Q-SP 6
Acidic (pH 2 to 5)
3B Chemical Exposure,
R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 10 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6 R-SP 6
Neutral (pH 5 to 10)
3C Chemical Exposure,
NR R-SP 10 NR R-SP 10 NR R-SP 6 NR R-SP 6 NR R-SP 6
Alkaline (pH 10 to 12)
3D Chemical Exposure,
R-SP 10 Q-SP 10 R-SP 10 Q-SP 10 R-SP 6 Q-SP 6 NR NR NR Q-SP 6
Solvent
3E Chemical Exposure,
NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
Severe
BINDER TYPES:
IA = Inorganic; post-cured, waterborne alkali silicates
IB = Inorgenic; self-cured, waterborne alkali silicates
IC = Inorganic; self-cured, solvent-borne alkyl silicates
IIA = Organic; thermoplastic binders (e.g., phenoxy)
IIB = Organic; thermoset binders (e.g., epoxy polyamide, moisture-cured polyurethane)
RECOMMENDED USAGE:
R = Recommend
NR = Not Recommended
Q = Some products recommended, others not recommended. (See Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5.)
RECOMMENDED SURFACE PREPARATION:
The number refers to the minimum SSPC blast cleaning surface preparations as follows:
SP 5 = SSPC-SP 5, White Metal Blast Cleaning
SP 6 = SSPC-SP 6, Commercial Blast Cleaning
SP 10 = SSPC-SP 10, Near-White Blast Cleaning
NOTE: For pitted old steel, the blast cleaning requirement should be the next higher degree of cleanliness.
i.e., the SP 10 shown above should be SP 5, the SP 6 shown above should be SP 10.
SSPC-PS Guide 12.00
March 1, 2007
4. Types of Zinc-Rich Coatings the type described in ASTM D 520. Zinc-rich coatings are
successfully formulated with zinc dust levels ranging from 65
4.1.1 A zinc-rich coating is an anticorrosive coating for iron to 95 percent by weight in the dried film.
and steel incorporating zinc dust in a concentration sufficient to
enable the zinc metal in the dried film to corrode preferentially 4.4 NUMBER OF COMPONENTS: Inorganic and organic
to the ferrous substrate, i.e., to give galvanic protection. Note zinc-rich coatings are supplied as a single- or multi-compo-
that SSPC-Paint 20 and SSPC-Paint 29 require 65% minimum nent package. Many multi-component packages separate the
zinc loading in the dry film. Galvanic action is not universally zinc pigment and vehicle and provide directions for mixture
accepted as the primary method by which these coatings immediately prior to application. Multi-component coatings
protect the substrate. have a limited pot life after mixing. Because pot life will vary
with vehicle/resin type, the manufacturer’s product data sheets
4.1.2 Some zinc-rich coatings are used as prefabrication should always be consulted.
primers or shop primers, where they are applied to freshly blast
cleaned steel plates and sections. The prefabrication primers, 5. Selection of Coating System
often at a lesser thickness, are intended to protect the steel
throughout the fabrication period until the final painting system 5.1 CLASSIFYING EXPOSURE ZONES: Successful
can be applied to the finished structure. At that juncture, the corrosion protection utilizing a zinc-rich coating system is
pre-fabrication primer may be incorporated into the final system dependent upon the anticipated service in environmental
or removed. SSPC-PS Guide 22.00 and SSPC-Paint 30 discuss exposure zones. Guidelines for the use of organic and inor-
the use of zinc-rich coatings as prefabrication primers. ganic zinc-rich coatings, either topcoated or untopcoated, are
presented below based on the following SSPC classifications
4.1.3 Zinc-rich coatings may be used as a one-coat of exposure:
system or may be overcoated with one or more other coat-
ings. The use of untopcoated zinc-rich systems is discussed 1A Interior, Normally Dry
in Section 5.3 and the use of topcoated systems is discussed 1B Exterior, Normally Dry
in Section 5.4. 2A Frequently Wet-Fresh Water
2B Frequently Wet-Salt Water
4.2 VEHICLES FOR ZINC-RICH COATINGS: Zinc-rich 2C Fresh Water Immersion
coatings are available in a number of different commercial 2D Salt Water Immersion
types. These coatings may be categorized as having inorganic 3A Atmospheric Chemical Exposures (pH 2 to 5)
(Type I) or organic (Type II) vehicles. 3B Atmospheric Chemical Exposures (pH 5 to 10)
3C Atmospheric Chemical Exposures (pH 10 to 12)
4.2.1 Inorganic Vehicles: Type I inorganic vehicles include 3D Chemical Exposure, Solvents
post-cured water-borne alkali silicates (IA); self-cured, water- 3E Chemical Exposure, Severe
borne alkali silicates (IB); and self-cured, solvent-borne alkyl
silicates (IC). The vehicles of Types IA and IB may include the 5.2 GUIDELINES FOR USAGE: The untopcoated
alkali metals (commonly sodium, lithium, and potassium), while and topcoated inorganic and organic zinc-rich coatings are
IC vehicles are alkyl silicates (most commonly ethyl silicates). categorized as suitable (recommended), unsuitable (not
Type IA vehicles are post-cured with a separate wash solution, recommended), or questionable for the exposure environments
usually mildly acidic in nature, applied as an aftercoat. Type listed in Section 5.1. Questionable means that some products
IB vehicles are chemically similar to Type IA vehicles, except may perform satisfactorily, while other products may not, or
they are formulated to self-cure upon exposure to moisture that the environmental description is too variable to assure
and carbon dioxide in the air. Type IC vehicles self-cure upon satisfactory coating system performance. Guidelines for the
exposure to atmospheric moisture. use of topcoated and untopcoated zinc-rich coatings in various
environments are presented below and in Table 1.
4.2.2 Organic Vehicles: Type II vehicles include those
with thermoplastic binders (IIA) and thermoset binders (IIB). 5.3 USE OF UNTOPCOATED ZINC-RICH COATINGS
Type II thermoplastic vehicles include polymers of chlorinated
rubber, styrene, vinyl, and other organic materials that soften 5.3.1 Untopcoated Inorganic Zinc-Rich Coatings:
upon exposure to heat. Type IIB thermoset vehicles do not These coatings may be suitable for use in the following envi-
soften upon heating, and include polymers of epoxy, polyure- ronmental zones: 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3B, and 3D. These coatings
thane, polyester, silicone, and other chemically cross-linked are not recommended for the following environmental zones:
materials. 3A, 3C, and 3E. These coatings are questionable for use in
environmental zones 2C and 2D. These coatings are suit-
4.3 PIGMENTATION FOR ZINC-RICH COATINGS: The able for application to uninsulated hot equipment with service
major pigment component in these coatings is zinc dust of temperatures up to 400 °C (750 °F).
