FBE coatings are widely used in industrial corrosion protection, oil pipelines, construction engineering and other fields due to their excellent protective performance and environmental protection characteristics. This article will deeply analyze the technical principles, core applications and comparison with other coatings of FBE coatings to help you choose the best protection solution.
What is FBE coating?
Definition and Technical Principles
FBE coating is the full name of fusion bonded epoxy coating, which is an anti-corrosion technology that uses an electrostatic spraying process to melt and solidify epoxy powder on the metal surface. Because at a temperature above 200°C, the epoxy resin powder is coated on the surface and reacts chemically with the metal substrate to form a dense, highly adhesive protective layer.
Historical Development
In the 1950s, in order to protect oil and gas pipelines and prevent corrosion caused by environmental factors during transportation, FBE technology was developed. However, the early coating was applied by manual spraying, which was effective but inefficient and limited in scope. As time went by, people’s requirements for corrosion protection became increasingly stringent, and its solvent-free and low VOC emission characteristics promoted technological iteration. According to statistics from Global Coating Solutions, the global FBE coating market size will exceed US$4.2 billion in 2022. It is growing rapidly at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%.
Core application areas
Oil and gas pipelines
According to NACE data in 2023, the application of FBE coating in oil and gas pipelines accounts for more than 65%. Its advantages are:
Acid and alkaline medium corrosion resistance: FBE coating has very stable chemical properties and effectively resists various acid and alkali corrosion.
Adapt to extreme temperatures: FBE coating can maintain its excellent performance in the temperature range of -50℃ to 120℃.
Lifespan of more than 30 years: The lifespan of traditional asphalt coating is only 10-15 years, which is far longer than traditional asphalt coating, reducing replacement frequency and maintenance, and reducing costs.
Construction Engineering
Steel structure anti-corrosion: FBE coating is used in steel beams of bridges and high-rise buildings to effectively prevent rust and corrosion of steel beams and ensure safety.
Concrete reinforcement protection: FBE coating protects the steel bars in concrete, reducing the penetration rate of chloride ions by 90%, greatly extending the life of concrete.
Other industrial scenarios
Power equipment: FBE coatings are used in power equipment such as transformer housings and transmission towers.
Marine engineering: In marine projects such as offshore platforms and submarine pipelines, FBE coatings can withstand the erosion of seawater.
Technical Advantage Analysis
Anti-corrosion properties
Salt spray test comparison test shows that the corrosion resistance time of FBE coating is up to 3000 hours, while that of traditional polyurethane coating is only 1500 hours.
|
Coating Type |
Salt spray test (h) |
Adhesion (MPa) |
|
FBE |
≥3000 |
15-18 |
|
3LPE |
2500 |
10-12 |
Adhesion and durability
According to the ASTM D4541 standard, the adhesion between FBE coating and metal is as high as 15-18MPa. It can be stably attached to the metal surface and is difficult to be damaged or fall off when facing external forces.
Environmental characteristics
The environmental protection characteristics make it comply with the EU RoHS directive, without any substances harmful to the environment and human body, and the emission of organic compounds is almost zero.
FBE vs 3LPE vs Polyurethane Coating
|
index |
FBE coating |
3LPE coating |
Polyurethane coating |
|
cost |
medium |
high |
Low |
|
Temperature resistance |
-50~120℃ |
-40~80℃ |
-30~90℃ |
|
Environmental protection |
No VOC |
Contains polyethylene |
Containing solvent |
Conclusion: FBE has the highest cost-effectiveness in long-life pipes, 3LPE is more suitable for low-temperature environments, and polyurethane is suitable for short-term low-cost needs.
