In this post we will review the description, features and uses of various types of steel pipe coatings. We will end the post by reviewing the features, applications and popularity of bare pipe (pipe without coating).

HPPC- High Performance Powder Coating

This coating has a fusion bonded epoxy layer, a polyolefin adhesive layer, and a tough powder-based polyethylene topcoat. This coating is most commonly used for oil and gas pipelines, as it performs well in environments where moisture and corrosion can be a problem. The polyethylene coating protects the pipe during transportation and adds in-ground protection against chemical sand abrasive soil. The minimum pipe diameter of this coating is 14” and has a maximum pipe diameter of 42”. This pipe coating can handle extreme temperatures (-45C/-49F to max temperature of 85C/185F).

FBE- Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coating

This pipe coating provides excellent protection for small to large diameter pipelines with moderate operating temperatures (-30C/-22F to 110C/230F). Its application is most often used for oil, gas, or waterworks pipelines. The excellent adhesion allows long term corrosion resistance and protection of the pipeline. FBE can be applied as a dual layer which provides strong physical properties that minimize damage during handling, transportation, installation, and operation. This coating can be applied to pipe from 3.5” to 48+” in outside diameter (OD).

Dual Layer FBE – Dual Layer Abrasion Resistant Fusion Bond Epoxy Coating

Dual layer FBE has a wide range of service applications including directional drilling, anti-abrasion for road and river crossings, oil, gas, and waterworks pipelines. Just like single layer FBE (above) this coating can be applied to a wide range of outside diameter (OD) sizes, as small as 3.5” and as large as 48”. The top layer of abrasion resistance protects against erosion in wet environments.

Yellow Jacket- High Density Two Layer Polyethylene Coating

Yellow Jacket is a trademarked name for a coating that has a rubberized asphalt adhesive and a high-density polyethylene topcoat. It gets its name from its bright yellow colouring. This coating provides external protection for pipe used most commonly for oil, gas, and waterworks pipelines. It can be applied to pipe with outside diameters from .5” to 24”. The outer layer can be varied in thickness to provide greater protection in different environments that may require it. The handling and construction temperatures can be as low as -30C(-22F) and it can handle maximum operating temperatures of 60C(140F).

Bare Pipe

A pipe is considered bare if it does not have a coating adhered to it. Typically, once rolling is complete at the steel mill, the bare material is shipped to a location designed to protect or coat the material with the desired coating (which is determined by the ground conditions of the location the material is being used). Bare pipe is the most common type of pipe used in the piling industry and it is often put into the ground for structural use. Although there are no concrete studies to suggest that bare pipe is more mechanically stable than coated pipe for piling applications, bare pipe is the norm for the structural industry. At Titan Tube & Metal, we can recycle coated pipe for the structural market, employing processes to “strip,” “de-coat,” or remove the coating from the bare steel as our customers require.

If you have any questions about pipe coating or you need to have pipe coating removed, contact us now at info@titantube.ca