Influence of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Performance of Splash Zone Protective Coatings

Abstract For offshore structures, protective coatings used in the splash zone face high risk of physical damage. In addition, maintenance of the coating is challenging during service life. A good balance between the protective coatings’ mechanical property and anti-corrosive performance is key for trouble-free long-term steel protection. In this study, a styrene free unsaturated polyester coating system is evaluated via accelerated cyclic aging up to 2 years exposure, based on the qualification tests standard as per described in NORSOK M-501 edition 7 for System 7A. Furthermore, study from dynamic mechanical analysis equipped with a temperature and humidity controller accessory shows the impact of temperature and relative humidity on the coating’s mechanical properties. The polymers cross-linking density, indicated by the glass transition temperature, defines the vulnerability of a coating under different environments. The results from this study are valuable for correlating a coating’s accelerated aging performance with service lifetime prediction.