Corrosion protection of steels by liquid paint systems

Steel structures offer many advantages over concrete solutions:

• creativity ;

• quick assembly and installation ;

• easy monitoring ;

• easy modifications ;

• maintenance ;

• maintenance or total refurbishment.

They do, however, have one drawback: steel rusts (at least so-called "carbon" steel, as this article does not cover stainless steel). In other words, steel undergoes surface oxidation on contact with its environment.

When a failure occurs, the result is a disastrous image for the "metal + paint" industry, as the defect is highly visible. It translates into :

• rust;

• rust streaks;

• blistering;

• flaking or discoloration.

It is therefore essential to provide corrosion protection for a structure right from the design stage.

Liquid paint systems are one possible solution for protecting steel structures from corrosion, whatever the type of steel.

For such protection to be effective, it is necessary for owners, contractors, consultants, companies carrying out corrosion protection work, protective coating inspectors and product manufacturers to have information that is as complete, clear and unambiguous as possible, to avoid difficulties and misunderstandings between the parties involved in the practical implementation of protection work.

Indeed, the choice and application of anticorrosion paint systems are not based on the rules of a known and controlled repetitive industrial process, such as galvanizing [COR380] or powder coating [C2508] , but on the specific answers provided to a number of perfectly identified points:

• the description and design of the work, as well as the nature of the substrate to be treated;...