HIGHWAY BRIDGE PAINTING

LONG LIFE, MODERATE MAINTENANCE, AND ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE OF STRUCTURAL STEEL HIGHWAY BRIDGES CAN ALL BE ENHANCED BY REFERENCE TO A CHECKLIST OF BASIC PRINCIPLES. ALTHOUGH LITTLE OR NO PAINTING OF STRUCTURES MAY BE REQUIRED IN A HOT, DRY, RURAL ATMOSPHERE, A CAREFULLY DESIGNED COATING SYSTEM IS NECESSARY WHERE MOISTURE, DE-ICING SALTS, AND INDUSTRIAL OR AUTOMOTIVE CONTAMINANTS ARE PRESENT IN ABNORMAL AMOUNTS. EVEN IN THESE LATTER CASES, HOWEVER, ECONOMICAL PROTECTION CAN READILY BE OBTAINED THROUGH USE OF THE WIDER CHOICE OF MATERIALS AND METHODS NOW AVAILABLE, INCLUDING (1) DESIGNS FREE OF MOISTURE-COLLECTING CREVICES, POCKETS, OR UNPROTECTED AREAS, (2) MORE RAPID AND ECONOMICAL SANDBLASTING AND OTHER METHODS FOR SURFACE PREPARATION IN SHOP, FIELD, OR MAINTENANCE PRACTICE, (3) CHEMICAL PRETREATMENTS WHERE SPECIAL CORROSION RESISTANCE IS REQUIRED, (4) PRIMERS AND TOPCOATS BASED ON THE TRIED AND TRUE OIL-BASE VEHICLES AND ON FIELD PROVEN NEWER VEHICLES AND PIGMENTATIONS, CONSISTENT WITH THE TYPE OF SURFACE PREPARATION AND SERVICE ENVIRONMENT, AND (5) BETTER OR CHEAPER METHODS OF APPLICATION, INSPECTION, AND MAINTENANCE PAINTING AT REGULAR INTERVALS. THE CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO AVOID INCLUDES (1) PAINTING OVER DIRT, LOOSE RUST, GREASE, OR LOOSE MILLSCALE, (2) USE OF SHORT-OIL QUICK-DRYING PRIMERS OVER RUSTY HAND-CLEANED STEEL, (3) TOO-LONG INTERVAL BETWEEN PRIMING AND TOP-COATING OF PHENOLIC PAINT SYSTEMS, AND (4) DESIGNS WHICH BRING DRIPPINGS FROM CONCRETE OR FROM DEICING SALT INTO PROLONGED CONTACT WITH INADEQUATELY PROTECTED SURFACES. FOR THE HIGHWAY ENGINEER TO MAKE BEST USE OF CONTINUALLY IMPROVING MATERIALS AND METHODS, IT IS FIRST NECESSARY THAT THERE BE BETTER DISSEMINATION OF KNOWN INFORMATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMPLER AND BETTER SPECIFICATIONS. IN ADDITION THERE SHOULD BE CONTINUAL IMPARTIAL EVALUATION OF NEW PRODUCTS AND THE STUDY OF SPECIAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS PAINTING OF WELDED BRIDGES, PROTECTION OF HAND-CLEANED (OR RUSTY) STEEL, COMPARISON OF FIELD VERSUS SHOP PRIMING, EVALUATION OF BRINE-RESISTANT PAINTS, COMPARISON OF ALTERNATE APPLICATION METHODS, AND STUDY OF APPLICATION UNDER ADVERSE HUMIDITY-TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. THIS KIND OF PROGRAM WILL MAKE BOTH STRUCTURAL STEEL AND PROTECTIVE COATINGS STILL MORE VERSATILE FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. /AUTHOR/

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • No 243, pp 1-17, 11 FIG, 7 TAB, 10 REF Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Keane, John D
  • Publication Date: 1960

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Pagination: 17p
  • Monograph Title: Highway bridges: painting and deck construction
  • Serial:

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00218407
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Nov 4 1994 12:00AM