1. Surface Cleaning
- Thorough surface cleaning is essential to remove contaminants that hinder adhesion and performance.
- Steps:
- Remove oil, grease, and dirt using a degreaser or detergent solution.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry.
2. Surface Preparation by Substrate
- For Bare Steel or Iron:
- Mechanical cleaning: Remove rust, scale, and loose particles using:
- Wire brushing.
- Sandpaper.
- Scraping.
- For best results: Use abrasive blasting to the SA 2.5 standard for heavy-duty applications.
- For Previously Painted Surfaces:
- Scrape off all loose or flaking paint.
- Lightly sand the surface to ensure proper adhesion.
- Remove dust thoroughly.
3. Surface Condition Requirements
- Surface must be:
- Dry.
- Free of rust, dust, oil, grease, and mill scale.
- Smooth and slightly roughened to help paint adhesion.
4. Priming (if required)
- In extremely corrosive environments, apply a suitable primer (e.g., Multilac Red Oxide Primer or Zinc Phosphate Primer) before the anti-corrosive coat for added protection.
5. Pre-Paint Check
- Ensure surface and ambient temperatures are above 10°C.
- Humidity should be below 85%.
- Avoid painting on wet or dew-covered surfaces.