High Performance Coating Failure

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Author Message Stansen Specifications Senior Member Username: stanspecs Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 05:48 pm:    I have been asked to help discover the source of a Tnemec failure on an existing interior steel tube railing. The railing in question had some areas of rust, other areas patched with bondo, and some still with original iron oxide primer. The rail was painted with 135T over a weekend and looked fabulous on Monday but then started to deteriorate as the week went on. The coating became soft and easy to move around by hand on the surface. Questions: Applicator problem? Substrate preparation problems? Improper thinner added to coating before applied? Any other possible sources of the problem? Any and all thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Julie Root Senior Member Username: julie_root Post Number: 84 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 06:08 pm:    Tony Hobbs who represents Tnemec on the West Coast is a great resource. I think he is their senior technical person company wide. Tony Hobbs 310-637-2363 thobbs@tnemec.com Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED™ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 552 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 06:16 pm:    I have similar results with the Tnemec reps in the midwest. Contact the rep in your area. Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 06:03 pm:    Maybe applicator did not let Part A coat fully dry before applying Part B coat over? Or maybe applicator mixed "old" (beyond pot life) with new? To many questions for anyone to even begin to guess. Need to find out who/why someone recommended hi-perf mat'l over lesser primer (total coating system is only as good as that first "layer"). What/how exactly did applicator mix/apply (i.e., each step, enviro conditions, time, etc.). If coating is soft, sounds like it didn't catalyze (maybe incorrect mixing?) Did applicator strictly follow Tnemec's complete instructions? Julie Root Senior Member Username: julie_root Post Number: 85 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 06:22 pm:    JFYI I have commented to Tnemec that their web site does not list specific reps and I have called their main number for technical services not getting the sharpest rep. My guess if Tony cannot help you he will know the actual name and number of the person you need to contact. Tracy Van Niel, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tracy_van_niel Post Number: 217 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 11:56 am:    The Tnemec rep in my area has told me before that it doesn't matter how good the paint system is, if the surface is not prepared properly and the correct application process is not followed, then the paint system will fail. We have a specific statement in our special coatings section that failure due to improper application or improper surface preparation is the responsibility of the applicator and that the applicator will be responsible for doing new prep work and providing new primer or surfacer coats and finish coats at no additional cost to the owner. W. Dean Walker, AIA, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: wdwalkerspecs Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:26 pm:    Tracy, I believe that's a good statement to add. Think most of paint failures are due to improper surface preparation. Tom Peck Senior Member Username: tom_peck_csi Post Number: 41 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:40 pm:    Tracy, Just wondering ... do you qualify failure within a certain time period, say 12 months? or some other period of time? Have you qualified what constitutes "failure"? Thanks Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 216 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 01:02 pm:    Julie, Where are you located? I know the local reps for AZ and SoCal. Tracy's statement is true for any high performance coating or any paint system for that matter. Stansen Specifications Senior Member Username: stanspecs Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 04:53 pm:    Update! I appreciate everyone's response to my question. I have been in touch with Tnemec here in California about the project in question and have received an answer. Tnemec took samples and put them under the microscope. It appears the applicator put Part A on first, then Part B, then possibly an alkyd on top of that. That doesn't quite fit the favorite typos thread running elsewhere on this site, but it comes close in my book. Thanks again everyone!