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Water-based Fonte range of products for structures requiring extremely high durability
The NORSOK M-501 standards, developed by the Norwegian oil industry, set requirements for pretreatment, painting methods and protective coatings for structures which must withstand highly demanding conditions. These standards’ testing methods are therefore the most demanding on the market.
The expected lifetime of paint combinations meeting the requirements in question is 20-25 years. Water-based Fonte products by Tikkurila are among the painting systems with NORSOK approval. Our water-based Fonte products have been developed for highly demanding protective coating of industrial products, such as machinery, equipment and steel structures. Water-based products are resistant to the same chemical stresses as comparable solvent-based alkyds, acrylics, polyurethanes and epoxies. Our topcoats for outdoor use maintain their shine and shade for long periods. They protect surfaces from climatic stress, temperature variation and UV light from the sun just as well as traditional solvent-based products.
In most cases, one-component water-based paints are suitable for the same stress conditions as solvent-based one-component paints with similar binders. They are easy to use and allow painting with several alternative application methods. Two-component water-based paints are usually more durable in the face of mechanical and chemical stress than one-component water-based ones. They are therefore used for extremely demanding surfaces. When a surface is subject to climatic stress, the anticorrosion properties of paints and their durability during weather changes are fully comparable to solvent-based, two-component products with similar binders.
We recommend the following NORSOK approved painting system in corrosivity category C5 for structures used in extremely stressful conditions.
| Temazin 99 zinc dust epoxy paint | 1 x 60 µm | |
| Fontecoat EP Primer epoxy primer | 2 x 80 µm | |
| Fontedur HB 80 polyurethane topcoat | 1 x 60 µm | |
| total film thickness | 280 µm |
Safety and environmental issues increasingly important for industrial coatings
Water-based products are environmentally and user-friendly. With water-based products, solvent concentrations in the working environment are significantly lower during application and drying. When using Fontecoat EP Primer epoxy paint, for example, VOC emissions are reduced to less than one sixth of their level when using solvent-based epoxy primers. In general, these products also cause fewer risks, less irritation and are less hazardous to the health of users. Furthermore, by switching from solvent-based to water-based products, significant reductions can be achieved in work phases associated with the risk of fire and explosion.
Fonte products can be applied using the same methods as with solvent-based paints. At low cost, most modern painting lines and sprays can be modified to make them suitable for water-based paints.
ABB switched to water-based Fonte products
ABB, an internationally renowned manufacturer of transformers, has the objective of reducing its solvent content to under 10% of the current level. This will significantly reduce the related environmental effects, improve working conditions, reduce energy costs and cut costs related to solvents, while also being expected to improve quality.
ABB has approved the following Fonte painting systems by Tikkurila for anticorrosion painting:
Corrosivity category C3
| Fontecryl AP acrylic primer | 1 x 40 µm | |
| Fontecoat EP Primer epoxy primer | 1 x 60 µm | |
| Fontedur HB 80 polyurethane topcoat |
1 x 60 µm | |
| total film thickness | 160 µm |
Corrosivity category C4
| Fontecoat EP Primer epoxy primer |
1 x 40 µm | |
| Fontecoat EP Primer epoxy primer | 2 x 80 µm | |
| Fontedur HB 80 polyurethane topcoat | 1 x 60 µm | |
| total film thickness | 260 µm |
It has long been known that water-based products can be used in corrosivity categories C2 and C3. In the future, it will also be possible to replace solvent-based paints with water-based Fonte paints for nearly all industrial targets, including those intended for extremely demanding conditions and belonging to corrosivity categories C4 and C5, for example.