PAINT SYSTEMS FOR HIGHWAY STRUCTURAL STEEL

A ten-year investigation of metal protective paint systems for highway steel structures was carried out. A total of over 100 paints, including 40 primers, was used. Field exposure data on 501 panels over a five-year period involved three test fences with various environments: (1) marine, (2) humid inland, and (3) mild urban. Parallel laboratory studies included characterization, development of an "accelerated environmental chamber," degradation tests, and usefulness of electrical techniques to measure capacitance- water absorption and polarization-corrosion inhibition. Ancillary studies included painted bridge panels under seacoast and inland environments and a water tank. Visual observation of panels and observer-assigned "grades," from 10 (perfect) to 1 (failure), as to appearance and integrity, permitted evaluation of the performance and estimated "service life" of the paint systems. All data were arranged for computer documentation, and input, storage, updating, retrieval, processing and special data reduction programs were developed. Galvanized steel, zinc-rich paints, a cement/oil primer with alkyd finish, zinc dust or zinc/chlor. rubber, or zinc dust oil, primer with aluminum/tung oil phenolic finish, gave superior performance under aggressive sea coast environments. The computer data base system developed is recommended for adoption or adaptation throughout the U.S. The accelerated environment chamber merits consideration by any paint laboratory in its studies. The electrical techniques investigated are appropriate to research and development studies. The data contain much material of direct and indirect application to operational functions of a highway department. Several new paint specifications were developed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research sponsored by Georgia Department of Transportation and prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. From the study "A Study of Highway Structure Corrosion Problems and Metal Protective Coating Systems," GDOT Research Project No. 6301.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Georgia, Experiment

  Georgia Experiment Station
  Experiment, GA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Tooke Jr, W R
  • Hurst, D R
• Publication Date: 1974-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 246 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion tests; Field studies; Information processing; Laboratory tests; Materials and structures protection; Metals; Paint; Painting; Service life; Steel structures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field data
• Old TRIS Terms: Metal protection; Paint system; Steel structure painting
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00082853
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: GDOT 6301
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 8 1975 12:00AM