Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-103 31 August 2003

Qualification Requirements for High Temperature
External Coatings in Atmospheric Services
(APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)
Paints and Coatings Standards Committee Members
Barouky, F.F., Chairman
Hammad, B.S., Vice Chairman
Al-Homayed, M.A.
Al-Khashram, M.S.
Al-Nujaim, S.A.
Al-Seba, Z.A.
Suller, A.A.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References..................................................... 3
4 General Requirements................................... 4
5 Qualification Tests and Requirements........... 4
6 Method of Packaging..................................... 7

Previous Issue: 31 July 1999 Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 8
Primary contact: Fikry F. Barouky on 872-5116
Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

1 Scope

This Specification defines the minimum mandatory requirements for qualifying

individual coating products to be classified in Saudi Aramco's approved protective
coating systems APCS-11A (inorganic zinc/silicone aluminum) and APCS-11B
(silicone aluminum) for high temperature atmospheric services. This Specification shall
be used when any of the following situations occur:

1.1 Initial Product Approval

This specification shall be given to coating manufacturers, or other vendors of

coating products, who wish to obtain initial approval for products that have not
previously been qualified in accordance with this specification.

1.2 Purchase Requisitions/Purchase Orders

This specification shall be attached to Purchase Requisitions or Purchase Orders

when those documents address the procurement of coating products that have
not been previously qualified in accordance with this specification.
Exception:

This specification does not apply to, and should not be included with, Purchase
orders or requisitions for coating products that have been previously qualified per
this specification. This specification should also not be included with purchase
orders or requisitions for coated items or equipment when a Saudi Aramco
approved protective coating system has been specified.

1.3 Periodic Product Compliance Checks

This specification may be used for periodic product compliance checks on

previously approved coatings. It shall be given to the organization conducting
the compliance tests.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

3 References

The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this specification shall comply with the
latest edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a
Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-060 Packaging Requirements for Coatings

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-H-101 APCS-11A High Temperature Coating System for
Atmospheric Service Between 150 - 400°C
(with Zinc Silicate Primer)
SAES-H-101 APCS-11B Very High Temperature Coating System for
Atmospheric Service Between 400 - 540°C
(Self-priming or silicone resin primer)

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM A36 Specification for Structural Steel
ASTM B117 Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
ASTM D610 Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
Surfaces
ASTM D660 Evaluating Degree of Checking of Exterior Paints
ASTM D661 Evaluating Degree of Cracking of Exterior Paints
ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of Blistering of Paints
ASTM D1640 Drying, Curing or Film Formation of Organic
Coatings at Room Temperature
ASTM D1849 Package Stability of Paint
ASTM D2805 Hiding Power of Paints
ASTM D3359 Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

The Society for Protective Coatings

SSPC SP 5 Surface Preparation Specification White Metal
Blast Cleaning
SSPC SP 10 Near White Blast Cleaning
SSPC PA2 Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness with
Magnetic Gages
SSPC VIS 1 Visual Standard for Abrasive Blast Cleaned Steel

Swedish Standards Institute

SIS Sa 2 1/2 Very Thorough Blast Cleaning
SIS Sa 3 Blast Cleaning to White Metal

4 General Requirements

4.1 For purposes of this specification, the Buyer's Representative shall be the
Responsible Standardization Agency Representative (RSA).

4.2 In order to qualify a coating system as acceptable under this specification, the
coating supplier shall submit a certified test report documenting that the
proposed coating system meets the qualification tests and requirements of this
SAMSS. Preparation and testing shall be performed and/or witnessed by an
independent laboratory or inspection agency. This report shall be submitted to
the Saudi Aramco RSA for review and approval if the data presented by the
Supplier satisfied all the requirements.

4.3 All initial product qualification tests and any other laboratory tests that Saudi
Aramco sees necessary to qualify this product shall be carried out at no cost to
Saudi Aramco.

5 Qualification Tests and Requirements

5.1 Physical Property Tests

5.1.1 Package Stability of Paint

When stored at 52°C ± 1°C for 6 months in accordance with ASTM

D1849, the sample shall meet the following requirements:
a) Weight loss - 0
b) Skinning, pressure and corrosion - 10
c) Settling - 6 or better
d) Grains, lumps, or streaks - 8 or better

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

5.1.2 Spray Properties

The ready-mixed coating shall be easily applied at the dry film

thicknesses given below to a vertical surface with no tendency to orange
peel, sag, creep or run:
APCS-11A:
Inorganic zinc primer: 25-65 microns (1 - 2.5 mils)
Silicone aluminum topcoat: 15-40 microns (0.5 - 1.5 mils)
Total Dry Film Thickness: 40 – 105 microns (1.5 – 3.5 mils)
APCS-11B:
Primer: 15-40 micrometers (0.5 - 1.5 mils)
Topcoat: 15-40 micrometers (0.5 - 1.5 mils)
Total Dry Film Thickness: 30 – 80 microns (1 – 3 mils)

5.1.3 Drying Times

When tested in accordance with ASTM D1640, the dry-to-touch time

shall be 1 hour maximum and the dry-through (or dry-to-handle) time
shall be 3 hours maximum.

5.2 Steel Panel Preparation

5.2.1 Surface Preparation

a) Make the test panels from ASTM A36 hot-rolled steel

approximately 100 mm X 150 mm X 5 mm (minimum). Prior to
preparation of the surface, the condition of the test panel shall be
equivalent to SSPC-Guide to VIS-1 Rust Grade A, Adherent Mill
Scale.

b) The surface cleanliness of the test panels shall meet (but not
exceed) the requirements of SSPC SP 10, Near White Blast
Cleaning (SIS Sa2-½, Very Thorough Blast Cleaning) for APCS-
11A and SSPC SP 5, White Metal Blast Cleaning (SIS Sa3, Blast
Cleaning to Pure Metal) for APCS-11B.

c) The profile of the blasted surface shall be 40-65 micrometers (1.5 -

2.5 mils) for APCS-11A and 25 micrometers (1.0 mil) maximum
for APCS-11B. The surface profile shall be determined with
replica tape.

5.2.2 Coatings Application

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

a) Mix, apply, and cure the coatings in accordance with the Vendor's
recommendations.

b) Measure and record the dry film thickness in accordance with

SSPC PA2.

c) The dry film thickness shall be as follows:

APCS-11A:

Primer: One coat, 25-65 micrometers (1.0 - 2.5 mils)

Topcoat: One coat, 15-40 micrometers (0.5 - 1.5 mils)
Total Dry Film Thickness: 40 – 105 microns (1.5 – 3.5 mils)

APCS-11B:

Primer: One coat, 15-40 micrometers (0.5 - 1.5 mils)

Topcoat: One coat, 15-40 micrometers (0.5 - 1.5 mils)
Total Dry Film Thickness: 30 – 80 microns (1 – 3 mils)

5.3 Performance Tests

5.3.1 Elevated Temperature Testing

Duplicate panels shall be prepared in accordance with paragraph 5.2 and

allowed to air dry at 25°C ± 2°C for 24 hours. The panels shall be
placed in a muffle furnace or oven on a suitable rack or holder so that no
part of the panel is in direct contact with the bottom or sides of the oven.
Depending on the system being tested, the panels shall be exposed in the
Table 1 schedule.

At the conclusion of the heating schedule each coating system shall be

evaluated for and meet the criteria as shown in Table 2.

5.3.2 Salt Fog Test

Duplicate panels tested in accordance with paragraph 5.3.1 shall be

exposed in a salt fog cabinet in accordance with ASTM B117 for 100
hours. At the conclusion of the test, each coating system shall be
evaluated to meet the criteria shown in Table 3.

5.3.3 Quenching Test

Duplicate panels prepared in accordance with paragraph 5.2 shall show

no signs of cracking of flaking when subjected to 5 quenches from
300°C in tap water at room temperature.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

5.4 Opacity (for cured film)

When cured film is tested in accordance with ASTM D2805, the minimum
contrast ratio shall be 0.99.

6 Method of Packaging

Coatings shall be packaged in accordance with 09-SAMSS-060.

Revision Summary
31 August, 2003 Revised the "Next Planned Update".
Editorial revision to changed the title of the document and revised section 1, paragraph 3.2,
4.2, 4.3 5.1.2 5.1.3 & 5.2.2.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings 09-SAMSS-103
Issue Date: 31 August 2003 Qualification Requirements for High Temperature External
Next Planned Update: 1 September 2008 Coatings in Atmospheric Services (APCS-11A) and (APCS-11B)

Table 1 - Elevated Temperature Testing

APCS-11A APCS-11B
8 hrs at 95°C 8 hrs at 250°C
16 hrs at 150°C 16 hrs at 300°C
8 hrs at 200°C 8 hrs at 350°C
16 hrs at 250°C 16 hrs at 400°C
8 hrs at 300°C 8 hrs at 450°C
16 hrs at 350°C 16 hrs at 500°C
8 hrs at 400°C 8 hrs at 540°C

Table 2 - Coating System Evaluation

Standard Acceptable Rating

ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of No blisters
Blistering of Paint
ASTM D660 Evaluating Degree of No checking
Checking of Exterior
Paints
ASTM D661 Evaluating Degree of No cracking
Checking of Exterior
Paints
Abnormal Discoloration None
ASTM D3359 Measuring Adhesion by Classification 4 or better
Tape Test

Table 3 - Salt Fog Test

Standard Acceptable Rating

ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of No blisters
Blistering of Paint
ASTM D660 Evaluating Degree of No checking
Checking of Exterior
Paints
ASTM D661 Evaluating Degree of No cracking
Cracking of Exterior
Paints
ASTM D610 Evaluating Degree of 10 or better for APCS-11A
Rusting on Painted Steel 9 or better for APCS-11B
Surfaces

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