What Is Pipe Coating?
Pipe coating plays a vital role in fields such as natural gas transportation and offshore engineering. It’s more than just a coat of paint; it’s a protective layer for pipelines. Pipelines face threats like abrasion and corrosion during operation, and pipe coatings provide a solid protective barrier.
Pipe Coating Function
Pipe coating is the protective clothing for pipelines. Do you know what specific role this “protective clothing” plays?
- Corrosion Protection: Anti-corrosion is the most basic and important function of pipeline coating. The coating can isolate the pipeline from the corrosive soil, air and water in the outside world, thereby preventing corrosion and extending the service life of the pipeline.
- Keep warm/cold: For some media that need to be kept warm or cold, we can use heat-insulating/cold-insulating Pipeline coatings to reduce heat/cold loss during transportation.
- Protection against mechanical damage: Coated pipe is compared with uncoated pipe. Coated pipe is equivalent to adding a layer of protective film on the surface of the pipe, which can prevent external force damage during use or transportation and protect the pipe body.
- CP Compatibility: High-quality pipeline coatings have electrical insulation properties and work in conjunction with the cathodic protection system to protect the required current and provide dual protection for the pipeline.
- Flow Efficiency: Most people think of outer coatings when they think of pipe coatings. In fact, there is also inner coating. Although the inner coating is not so eye-catching, it silently protects the pipe. The inner coating can make the inner wall of the pipe smooth, reduce flow resistance, and improve work efficiency.
- Identification and warning: As we all know, most pipelines are opaque, so how can we know what media is being transported in them? Pipe coatings can be used. Different coatings represent different media. Flammable, explosive, and corrosive media can be specially marked to improve safety and facilitate identification and management.
- Extend service life: Whether it is anti-corrosion, insulation or mechanical protection, all of the above functions have only one common purpose – to extend the service life of the pipeline. Although the initial coating makes the cost higher, it prolongs the service life, reduces the cost of subsequent maintenance, and extends the replacement cycle.
Types and Advantages of Pipe Coatings
Based on the pipeline’s usage environment, requirements, and coating location, the most common pipeline coating technologies on the market today are as follows:
Fusion Bonded Epoxy
- Fusion Bonded Epoxy is also known as FBE，Fbe coated pipe is used in various industries.Epoxy powder is sprayed onto a preheated pipe, which then melts and solidifies to form a thin film.
- Pipe fbe coating has good corrosion resistance, cathodic peeling resistance, strong adhesion and is not easy to fall off.
Three-Layer Polyethylene/Polypropylene Coating
- Three-layer polyethylene/polypropylene coating, also known as 3LPE/3LPP, is currently the most widely used high-performance pipe exterior coating.
- This coating consists of three layers:
Outer layer – Extruded polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP)
Inner layer – Copolymer adhesive
Inner layer – Fusion bonded epoxy powder - 3lpe coated pipes and 3lpp coated pipes have the best comprehensive performance, they are both corrosion resistant and impact resistant, wear resistant and insulating, with a service life of up to 50 years.
Polyethylene Adhesive Tape
- Also known as PE Tape Coating, this coating is essentially a tape composed of a polyethylene film (outer layer) and a butyl rubber/asphalt-based adhesive (inner layer).
- It is easy to apply and can be wound by hand. It is highly adaptable, suitable for emergency repairs, and inexpensive. However, its disadvantages are also significant: poor adhesion, poor temperature resistance, cathodic shielding, and poor resistance to soil stress.
Polyurethane coatings
- This coating is a high-molecular-weight polymer formed by a chemical reaction between polyisocyanates and polyols.
- It comes in two forms: rigid polyurethane and elastic polyurethane.
| Comparison Dimension | Rigid polyurethane coating | Elastic polyurethane coating |
| Adhesion | 12-16 MPa, equivalent to FBE | 8-12 MPa |
| Chemical resistance | Resistant to oil, solvent, weak acid and alkali | Resistant to water and salt spray, not resistant to strong solvents |
| Elongation | D80-D90 (similar to hard plastic) | A70-A95 (similar to car tires) |
| Elongation | ＜10% | 200%-500% |
| tensile strength | ＞40 MPa | 15-25 MPa |
If you don’t know whether you need polyurea Pipeline coatings, midwest pipe coatings, or epoxy pipe coatings for your pipes, you can click below to consult PandaPipe experts. PandaPipe is a company specializing in the production and sale of pipes. We have multiple processes such as ERW / SSAW / SMLS / LSAW and are a pipe coating company worthy of your trust.
Pipe Coatings Applications
Oil and Gas Industry: The oil and gas industry is the largest market for pipeline coatings. Some oil and gas pipelines and submarine pipelines require highly corrosion-resistant coatings.
Marine Engineering: Subsea oil/gas pipelines, submarine cable protection pipes, and other applications require coatings for protection. 60% of submarine pipeline failures are related to coating defects.
Municipal Engineering: Water supply and drainage, heating networks, and other facilities re
Chemical Industry: Transports various corrosive media such as acids and alkalis.
FAQs：
1.What are the three types of coating?
Although there are many types of pipeline coatings, they can be roughly divided into three categories based on their application: Architectural, Industrial, and Special Purpose.
2.What is the best coating for corrosion?
The most suitable coating for corrosion protection is silicone coating.
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