The fusion bond epoxy coating is a special type of coating that is applied to steel pipes in order to protect them from corrosion, rust and other environmental factors. However, the process is much more complicated than it seems. The epoxy coating cannot be applied to the steel pipe directly. Instead, the pipe must be primed for application. Moreover, the epoxy coating must also be prepared accordingly for application.
The epoxy coating is usually applied to a special kind of pipe known as the fusion bond pipe. This type of pipe is used specifically in the oil and gas industry. It is also laid down underwater, such as to protect the internet cables running on the sea bed. The FBE coating is an industry standard. The coating does not harm the environment and is made of a special thermoset polymer in order to provide robust protection against corrosion. It is also known as powder coating and is commonly referred to by its acronym, FBE. The FBE coating is not only applied to the steel pipe but is also applied to the valves and other fittings.
With the passage of time, pipes placed underwater or in harsh environmental conditions tend to corrode. Corrosion can eventually lead to cracks in the pipeline, compromising its integrity. That is why fusion bond epoxy is used in large scale projects. For instance, oil and gas pipelines usually stretch for miles and are often placed under the ground. That is why regular maintenance is not a feasible option. Instead, companies make sure that the pipe is properly covered with an epoxy coating before using it.
Powder Manufacturing
The manufacturing plant where the powder is manufactured must have the following essential features:
* A pre-blending station;
* A weighting station;
* A grinding machine;
* An extruder.
First, the components of the epoxy coating are carefully weighted and blended in industrial mixers. Once it has been mixed properly, the mixture is moved to the extruder. Inside the extruder barrel, the range is set anywhere between 50 and 100 degrees Celsius. During this process, the ingredients tend to disperse. The product is then passed through sieves and is packaged carefully to avoid contamination of any sort.
The Application Process
The application process is not straightforward either. In order to apply the fusion bond epoxy to the pipe, the pipe must be cleaned thoroughly using blast cleaning. The cleaned metal area is then heated to a specific temperature in order to allow the FBE coating to stick to the surface. Finally, the FBE coating is applied evenly to the circular shape of the pipe. For the valves and fittings, a manual spray gun is used.
