Powercrete Cure Times

 Powercrete J Cure Times

     Here we will look at cure times for Powercrete J.  As you likely know, the biggest factor in determining cure time is this:  what temps are involved?  That can mean ambient temperatures -- but it can also mean 'artifical' temperatures which would include preheating the steel prior to application.  Preheating the steel is the best way to have a controlled cure time (to a degree).

     Now, there are really a couple of important "times."  There is GEL TIME - which will tell you when the window is open for you to add another coat (coats need to be added to material in its gel state --- otherwise if the material is too cured; an anchor pattern will have to be re-introduced.  Then there is 65 Shore D time.  There is also a 75 Shore D time and a "dry" time but I won't be address those in this article.  

Temperature                Gel Time                65 Shore D Time

               80F                        30 minutes                    4 hr 45 minutes     

          90F                        25 minutes                    2 hr 50 minutes

100F                        18 minutes                    2 hr           

        110F                        16 minutes                    1 hr 40 minutes

         120F                        15 minutes                    1 hr 20 minutes 

140F                        13 minutes                    40 minutes

What is the difference between various Powercrete Coatings?

 How are Powercrete J, Powercrete R65/F1 and Powercrete R95 Different?

     Since its creation in the early 1990's, Powercrete products have seen a number of generations of products introduced to the marketplace.  The current batch of available products are significantly higher performing than the initial formulations that were introduced more than thirty years ago now.  I won't be discussing Powercrete-DD here; or Powercrete 410 (the newest factory applied ARO).  For the purposes of this article, I'm looking exclusively at the hand applied field joint coating options:  Powercrete J, Powercrete R65/F1 and Powercrete R95.  

     Looking at Powercrete on the whole, it is an epoxy coating that boasts many strengths.  Namely:

• All Powercrete products show fantastic adhesion to both bare steel and fusion bond epoxy.
• Powercrete products exhibit superior resistance to water immersion.
• In addition, Powercrete products offer industry leading mechanical properties for impact and abrasion resistance.
• Fast cure (Powercrete R65/F1) epoxy is available for quicker backfill.
• Powercrete kits (Powercrete R150) can be used on lines operating at up to 300F.
• Powercrete field joint coatings are the preferred method for coating field joints on pipelines utilizing Powercrete DD as an ARO. 

Powercrete J

Powercrete J Applications: Road Bores, Field Joint Coating, Bends, Fittings

     Powercrete J is the original stand alone Powercrete epoxy coating.  For many years, it has been seen in the industry as the #1 road bore epoxy coating for field joints on pipelines involved with road bores or directional drills.  Looking at some of the key technical data that shows how good Powercrete J is for the incredibly harsh conditions associated with a road bore:

• Adhesion to steel is >3000 psi using ASTM 4541
• Abrasion resistance tested with ASTMD4060 passes at 1210 cycles per mil
• Shore D Hardness comes in at 85
• CD is excellent 

Powercrete R65/F1 sometimes called Powercrete F1

Powercrete R65/F1 Applications: Road Bores, Field Joint Coating, Bends, Fittings

     Powercrete R65/F1 is the "Fast Cure" product in the Powercrete product line.  Available in 1#, 2# and 4# kits; this product is perfect for many different pipeline applications.  And don't let the "Fast Cure Powercrete" moniker fool you.  Powercrete R65/F1 still has excellent technical performance:

• Excellent Cathodic Disbondment performance at elevated temperatures (70C)
• Great impact resistance using ASTM G14
• Adhesion to steel under ASTM D4541 comes in at 3200 psi.
• Abrasion resistance comes in at 1000 cycles per mil using D4060.

Powercrete R95

Powercrete R95 Applications: Road Bores, Field Joint Coating, Bends, Fittings

     Powercrete R95 is known as the "High Build" Powercrete material.  Able to apply in thickness as high as 40 mils in a single pass, Powercrete R95 can dramatically reduce labor costs associated with "building" multiple epoxy layers in order to achieve the desired thickness.  It does that ---- AND brings in a strong technical performance:

• Adhesion to steel using ASTM D4541 comes in at 3500 cycles
• Abrasion resistance comes in at 850 cycles/mil
• Shore D hardness is 85
• Cathodic disbondment is right there with the results from Powercrete J and Powercrete R65/F1.  

     All in all - three EXCELLENT corrosion prevention solutions available today.  Proven performance.  

    If you have questions - please reach out immediately!  steve@jsicoatings.com   936/321-3333