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Protective Coatings and Linings Flashcards

6 cards from real NACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. According to the joint standard NACE No. 1 / SSPC-SP 5, what is the required condition of a steel surface after 'White Metal Blast Cleaning'?

    Answer: The surface, when viewed without magnification, must be free of all visible oil, grease, dust, dirt, mill scale, rust, coating, oxides, and other foreign matter.

    NACE No. 1 / SSPC-SP 5, 'White Metal Blast Cleaning,' is the highest grade of abrasive blast cleaning. It requires the complete removal of all visible contaminants from the steel surface when viewed without magnification. The other options describe different, less stringent surface preparation standards like Near-White (SSPC-SP 10), Commercial (SSPC-SP 6), or methods like water jetting (SSPC-SP 12).

  2. An inspector is measuring the dry film thickness (DFT) of a coating on a 500 sq ft steel tank section according to SSPC-PA 2. How are the spot and area measurements correctly performed?

    Answer: Take five spot measurements (each an average of at least 3 readings) over each 100 sq ft area, and the average of these five spots constitutes the area measurement.

    SSPC-PA 2 specifies a clear protocol for DFT measurement. For each 10 m² (~100 ft²) area, an inspector must take five spot measurements. Each spot measurement is itself an average of at least three individual gage readings taken within a 1.5-inch diameter circle. The average of the five spot measurements determines the area measurement.

  3. A pipeline operating under impressed current cathodic protection (CP) has its fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) coating tested. The test involves creating an intentional holiday and applying a negative potential in an electrolyte to measure the coating's resistance to delamination. What is this test called?

    Answer: Cathodic Disbondment Test (ASTM G8/G42/G95)

    This scenario describes a Cathodic Disbondment (CD) test. This test is specifically designed to evaluate a coating's performance when used in conjunction with a cathodic protection system. It measures the coating's ability to resist delamination or 'disbondment' from the substrate at an intentional defect (holiday) when subjected to the electrical stresses of CP.

  4. Which of the following best describes the primary corrosion protection mechanism of an inorganic zinc-rich primer on a steel substrate?

    Answer: It provides sacrificial (galvanic) protection by corroding preferentially to the steel substrate.

    Inorganic zinc-rich primers protect steel primarily through sacrificial action. The zinc particles in the coating are more electrochemically active than the steel substrate. In the presence of an electrolyte, the zinc becomes the anode and corrodes preferentially, while the steel becomes the cathode and is protected from corrosion.

  5. An epoxy coating applied in a cool, humid environment develops a waxy, greasy film on the surface after curing. This defect, which can cause intercoat adhesion failure, is most likely:

    Answer: Amine Blush

    The condition described is a classic example of amine blush. It occurs when amine curing agents in the epoxy react with moisture and carbon dioxide from the air, especially in low temperature and high humidity conditions. This reaction forms a carbamate film on the surface that is often waxy or oily and must be removed before recoating to ensure proper adhesion.

  6. An inspector needs to perform a holiday test on a 15-mil (380-micron) thick tank lining. Which of the following methods is most appropriate and effective for detecting holidays in a coating of this thickness?

    Answer: High-voltage (spark) holiday detector set to an appropriate voltage based on the coating thickness.

    Low-voltage (wet-sponge) holiday detectors are generally used for coatings up to 20 mils (500 microns), but are primarily intended for thinner films (typically under 10 mils) and may not reliably detect pinholes without a wetting agent. High-voltage (spark) holiday testing is the standard and more effective method for thicker coatings, like the 15-mil lining described. The voltage must be set correctly (e.g., using NACE SP0188 guidelines) to be effective without damaging the coating.