Abstract
Field and laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the effect of UV degradation on stockpiles of FBE Coated Pipeline. In addition, three commercially available UV protector paints were examined as potential protection of the underlying FBE system 1A pipeline coating from UV degradation. This study was done under actual field exposure for two years and using laboratory tests simulating weathering conditions using a Q-SUN Xenon Arc Test Chamber to simulate the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain. Coating flexibility by laboratory testing, and Photooxidation Index (POI), Carbonyl Index (CI) and changes in the polymer chemical structure by Attenuated Total Reflection – Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) were examined at different time intervals. The results indicated that although the tested UV protector coatings were effective in preventing the underlying FBE coating from chemical/oxidative degradation and chalking, maintaining the color of FBE gloss; the underlying FBE coating exhibited a reduction in flexibility after nine months of field exposure and 250 hours of accelerated laboratory test conditions. No further decrease in the FBE coating integrity was noted with increasing exposure/testing time.
