Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-101 11 October 2011

Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane
Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee

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........... 5
6 Method of Packaging...................................... 9

Previous Issue: 28 June 2009 Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Page 1 of 9
Primary contact: Khashram, Maher Saud on 966-3-8809561

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2011. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

1 Scope

This Specification defines the minimum mandatory requirements for qualifying

individual coating products for use in Saudi Aramco's approved protective coating
systems APCS-26 and APCS-26T. It 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 should 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 (SAMSS), Engineering Standards (SAES),
Standard Drawings (SASD) or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department.

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 Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

3 References

Material or equipment supplied to 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-26 Epoxy Mastic Coating (Self-priming)
SAES-H-101 APCS-26T Epoxy Mastic with Top Coat Aliphatic
Polyurethane Coating System
SAES-H-101 APCS-1B Epoxy Coating System for Atmospheric Service
(with Epoxy Primer)
SAES-H-101 APCS-4 Aluminum-pigmented Alkyd Coating System
SAES-H-101 APCS-6 High Gloss Enamel System for Metal Surfaces
(with Inorganic Zinc Primer)

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM A36 Structural Steel
ASTM B117 Specification for Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
ASTM D16 Definition of Terms Relating to Paints, Varnishes,
Lacquers, and Related Products
ASTM D523 Specular Gloss
ASTM D610 Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
Surfaces
ASTM D660 Evaluating Degree of Checking of Exterior Paint
SAs
ASTM D661 Evaluating Degree of Cracking of Exterior Paints
ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of Blistering of Paints

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

ASTM D822 Operating Light-and-water Exposure Apparatus

(Carbon-arc Type) for Testing Paint, Varnish,
Lacquer, and Related Products
ASTM D1640 Drying, Curing or Film Formation of Organic
Coatings at Room Temperature
ASTM D1654 Methods for Evaluation of Painted or Coated
Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environments
ASTM D1849 Package Stability of Paint
ASTM D2805 Hiding Power of Paints
ASTM G26 Operating Light-exposure Apparatus (Xenon-arc
Type) with and without Water for Exposure of
Nonmetallic Material

Swedish Standard Institute

SIS 05 59 00 Pictorial Surface Preparation Standard for
Painting Steel Structures
Sa 2 Blast Cleaning (Commercial Blast)
Sa 2.5 Thorough Blast Cleaning (Near White)

The Society for Protective Coatings

SSPC PA2 Measurement of Dry Paint Thickness with
Magnetic Gauges
SSPC VIS 1 Pictorial Surface Preparation Standards for
Painting Steel Surfaces
SSPC SP6 Commercial Blast Cleaning
SSPC SP10 Near White Blast Cleaning

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.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

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 ± 3°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

5.1.2 Spray Properties

The ready-mixed coating shall be easily applied at the following dry film
thickness to a vertical surface with no tendency to orange peel, sag, creep
or run:
 Stand Alone Epoxy mastic: 250 micrometers (10 mils);
 Aliphatic Polyurethane Top-Coat: 65 micrometers (2.5 mils).

5.1.3 Drying Times

When tested in accordance with ASTM D1640, the drying times shall be
as follows:

Epoxy Mastic:
Dry-to-touch: 6 hours or less
Dry-to-handle: 20 hours or less

Polyurethane:
Dry-to-touch: 2 hours or less
Dry-to-handle: 8 hours or less

5.1.4 Usable Potlife

At 40°C, the viscosity of the ready-mixed paint shall remain within the
range recommended by the manufacturer for spray ability without

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

additional thinning for not less than the following times:

 Epoxy mastic: 30 minutes
 Polyurethane topcoat (APCS-26T only): 1 hour

5.1.5 Adhesion Test

a) Prepare test panels as described in paragraph 5.2. Allow the
coating to cure as shown in Table 1.

Table 1
DRYING TIME
COATING SUBSTRATE
AT 25 ± 1C
APCS-26
Epoxy Mastic Steel 5 days
APCS-26T
Epoxy Mastic Primer Steel 3 days
Polyurethane Topcoat Primer 5 days

b) Determine the adhesion of the epoxy mastic to the steel substrate

(and for APCS-26T, the adhesion of the polyurethane topcoat to the
epoxy mastic primer) by using an adhesion tester, 450 kg capacity.
Lightly sand the coated surface and the aluminum dolly. Apply an
epoxy adhesive and allow it to cure as directed by the adhesive
supplier. Scribe the coating and adhesive around the dolly prior to
testing. Make a minimum of three trials and report the average.
The average shall be at least 1375 kPa (200 psi) for the epoxy
mastic-to-steel interface when applied as a maintenance coating on
old and sound coating, and 2570 kPa (400 psi) for both the epoxy
mastic-to-steel and the polyurethane-to-epoxy mastic interface
when applied on new steel.

5.2 Test Panel Preparation

5.2.1 Surface Preparation

a) Make the test panels from ASTM A36 hot-rolled steel
approximately 100 mm X 150 mm. Prior to preparation of the
surface, the condition of the test panel shall be equivalent to
SSPC-guide to VIS 1 (SSPC-VIS 1) Rust Grade C, Rusted. The
minimum thickness of the test panels shall be 5 mm.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

b) The surface cleanliness of the test panels shall meet the

requirements of SSPC SP6, Commercial Blast (SIS Sa 2, Thorough
Blast Cleaning).
c) The profile of the blasted surface shall be 50-65 micrometers
(2 - 2.5 mils).

5.2.2 Coatings Application

a) Mix, apply, and cure the coatings in accordance with the
Manufacturer's recommendations given in the materials data sheet.
b) Measure and record the dry film thickness in accordance with
SSPC PA2.
c) The dry film thickness shall be:

APCS-26

Maintenance and/or over Factory coated Equipment up to 120°C:

125-200 microns (5-8 mils) in one coat.

New Steel:
250 – 350 microns (10-14mils) in multiple coats.

APCS-26T

Maintenance and/or over Factory coated Equipment up to 80°C:

Epoxy mastic coat : 125-200 microns (5-8 mils).
Topcoat Polyurethane : 40-65 micrometers (1.5 - 2.5 mils).

New Steel:
Epoxy Mastic: 250 – 350 microns (10-14mils) in multiple coats
Topcoat Polyurethane: 40-65 micrometers (1.5 - 2.5 mils)

5.3 Performance Tests

5.3.1 Prepare two panels in accordance with paragraph 5.2 and scribe them in
accordance with ASTM D1654. Expose the panels alternately in a
weather-o-meter in accordance with ASTM D822, Procedure B or
ASTM G26, Method B for 100 hours and in a salt fog cabinet in
accordance with ASTM B117 for 200 hours. Alternate the panels

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

between test apparatuses until a total of 1000 hours in the salt fog has
been achieved.

At the conclusion of the test, each coating shall meet the criteria in
Table 2.

Table 2

STANDARD
ACCEPTABLE RATING
Coating Tests
Evaluating Degree of Blistering
ASTM D714 No blisters
Paints
Evaluating Degree of Checking
ASTM D660 No checking
of Exterior Paints
Evaluating Degree of Cracking
ASTM D661 No cracking
of Exterior Paints
Evaluating Degree of Rusting
ASTM D610 8 or better
on Painted Steel Surfaces
Standard Evaluation of Painted
or Coated Specimens Rating of failure at scribe
ASTM D1654
Subjected to Corrosive shall be 8 or better
Environments
No more than 10% of the
N/A Falling Sand Erosion total average thickness has
been removed
The reduction in gloss of the
Specular Gloss only for APCS- tested sample shall not
ASTM D523
26 coated steel panels exceed 20% as compared
to an untested sample

5.3.2 For APCS-26T, the polyurethane topcoat shall be Type V Polyol-cured

Aliphatic as defined in ASTM D16. When tested in accordance with
ASTM D2805, the minimum contrast ratio shall be 0.94, except for red
colors, which shall be 0.88 minimum.

5.3.3 Maximum Service Temperature

The maximum service temperatures of the coating systems shall be as

follows:
 For APCS-26: 120ºC
 For APCS-26T: 80ºC

To verify compliance with these requirements, conduct adhesion tests on

coated panels that have been prepared in accordance with paragraph
5.1.5 and then exposed in an oven for 14 days at the appropriate

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-101
Issue Date: 11 October 2011 Qualification Requirements for Stand Alone Self-Priming Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 28 June 2014 Mastic Coatings including Top Coating with Aliphatic Polyurethane

temperature listed above. The adhesion shall be at least 90% of that

obtained on samples prepared and tested in accordance with paragraph
5.1.5 but not subsequently exposed in an oven.

5.4 Overcoat Compatibility Test

Prepare one panel each with APCS-1B, APCS-4, and APCS-6 coating systems
(total of 3 panels). After the coatings have air cured for 7 days, place them in an
oven at 71 ± 1ºC. Remove them from the oven after 48 hours and allow them to
condition in a laboratory environment for 24 hours. Brush apply a coat of epoxy
mastic on each panel at a minimum dry film thickness of 125 micrometers.
After curing for 48 hours in a laboratory environment, there shall be no evidence
of wrinkling, blistering, loss of gloss, lifting or other cohesion failures.

6 Method of Packaging

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

Revision Summary
28 June 2009 Revised the "Next Planned Update". Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and reissued
with minor changes.
11 October 2011 Editorial revision to remove the committee members list and update the primary contact
details.

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