Characterisation of the impact of solvent retention on the performance of anti-corrosion, subsea multi-layer coatings

Two-layer anti-corrosion subsea coatings were prepared and evaluated. These compositions consisted of a two component anti-corrosive, epoxy primer coating, Sigmacover™ 280 film, with a top coat of a two component, reinforced high solids polyamide adduct, the cured epoxy formulation, Sigmaguard™ 720 film. Gravimetric anaiyses, Differential Scanning Calorimetric anaiyses (DSC), Thermogravimetric anaiyses (TGA), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry anaiyses (GC-MS) and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM)/EDS evaluation were used in the characterisation of the curing and drying behaviour of the applied film(s). The impact of solvent(s) retention within the primer film layer of the multi-layer coatings was evaluated both semi-quantitatively and qualitively, with respectto effects of the residual solvent(s) composition on the film drying status, the film curing status, the cross-sectioned two-layer constitution structure and the adhesion effects.