en.Wedoany.com Reported - German anti-corrosion specialist Steelpaint has completed technical field trials of its new repair coating, Stelcatec-L, on a Liebherr LHM 500 mobile harbor crane operated by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel.
The trials were conducted at Hazira Port in Surat, India, on a crane operating under C5-level severe marine conditions characterized by high humidity and salinity. The project benefited from the strategic cooperation and support of Steelpaint's local partner, Kaptel Overseas. The crane surface showed significant degradation with low adhesion in the intermediate and topcoat layers, necessitating surface preparation to Sa2/St3 standards to remove damaged and poorly adhered coatings. During application, the total dissolved salt content in the water was controlled below 60 ppm, and an alkaline detergent solution was used to remove substantial hydrocarbon contaminants before high-pressure water washing.
According to Steelpaint, areas cleaned down to the base steel were coated with a two-layer system consisting of Stelcatec-L-PR (primer) and Stelcatec-L-TC (topcoat), achieving a total dry film thickness (DFT) of 280 µm. In areas where the residual primer had good adhesion, the Stelcatec-L-TC topcoat was applied directly over the existing coating (after sanding/roughening), resulting in a combined system thickness of 130 to 140 µm.
Dmitry Gromilin, Technical Service Manager at Steelpaint, stated that the project's goal was not only to provide advanced anti-corrosion protection but also to validate the performance of the Stelcatec-L system under actual operating conditions in a harsh marine environment, while minimizing repair coating costs during the port crane's service life. He noted that one of the most outstanding performance features was the system's rapid recoatability; the second layer, Stelpant-1C-PU-Stelcatec-L-TC, was applied just 25 minutes after the first layer without causing any damage to the underlying coat.
The average dry film thickness after two layers was measured at 208.6 µm. Tensile adhesion tests on the completed coating system yielded results of 8.19 MPa and 8.62 MPa, both considered satisfactory. The project highlighted the practical application advantages of the new Stelcatec-L system under high-temperature field conditions, including comprehensive verification and quality control, salinity testing, DFT measurements, and adhesion testing per recognized ISO standards.
Stelcatec-L is Steelpaint's new moisture-curing polyurethane coating, specifically developed for anti-corrosion protection in heavy-duty applications, designed to achieve fast recoat intervals, high film build application, and operation under a wide range of environmental conditions. Frank Müller, Director of Steelpaint, stated that this was a practical repair project conducted under real field conditions, aimed at understanding how the Stelcatec-L coating performs in the presence of old coatings, severe contamination, and environmental stress. The work demonstrated the value of targeted repairs supported by inspection and testing when the existing system remains intact; Stelcatec-L simplifies application, shortens the time to return to service, and contributes to the long-term resilience of infrastructure in corrosive environments. The trial coating was completed on the external section of the crane's rear right outrigger and will be observed as part of Steelpaint's ongoing evaluation of its coatings' performance in port and heavy industrial environments.
