Industrial Coatings for Valves | New Guard Coatings
Valves are used throughout demanding industrial environments, including oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, water infrastructure and process industries. Their external surfaces can be exposed to moisture, chemicals, corrosion, abrasion and changing temperatures, making appropriate protective coatings an important part of valve maintenance and manufacture.
A correctly specified industrial coating system can help protect compatible valve surfaces against corrosion, chemical exposure and general industrial wear while providing a durable finish.
New Guard Coatings supplies protective coating solutions for valves and associated industrial equipment across the UK.
Protective Coatings for Industrial Valves
Valves can vary significantly in size, construction, material and operating environment.
Potential coating applications include:
- Industrial valves
- Process valves
- Pipeline valves
- Ball valves
- Gate valves
- Butterfly valves
- Control valves
- Valve bodies
- Valve housings
- Associated pipework and fabricated components
The correct coating system will depend on the valve material, operating conditions, environmental exposure and required performance.
Why Valves Require Protective Coatings
Valves can operate in some of the most demanding industrial environments.
External surfaces may be exposed to:
- Moisture
- Atmospheric corrosion
- Chemicals
- Oils
- Abrasion
- UV exposure
- Salt spray
- Industrial contaminants
- Temperature fluctuations
A suitable anti-corrosion coating can provide a protective barrier between the valve substrate and its surrounding environment.
Protective coatings can help:
- Reduce corrosion
- Protect exposed metal
- Improve chemical resistance where specified
- Improve weather resistance
- Reduce maintenance requirements
- Extend coating service intervals
- Maintain the appearance of equipment
Valve Coatings for Oil & Gas
Oil and gas is a particularly demanding environment for industrial valves.
Valves used within oil and gas facilities may be exposed to hydrocarbons, moisture, chemicals, salt-laden atmospheres and demanding operating conditions.
Coating requirements should therefore take into account:
- Environmental exposure
- Chemical exposure
- Temperature
- Abrasion
- Corrosion risk
- Required durability
- Project specification
For offshore applications, salt spray and high humidity can create additional corrosion challenges.
A complete protective coating system should be selected according to the specific conditions the valve will encounter.
Coatings for Offshore Valves
Offshore valves can face particularly aggressive environmental conditions.
Continuous exposure to salt-laden air, moisture and humidity can accelerate corrosion of exposed steel.
Protective coating systems for offshore valve applications may therefore need to provide high levels of corrosion protection and durability.
Consider:
- Marine exposure
- Salt spray
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Mechanical wear
- Chemical exposure
- Required service life
Where a project requires compliance with specific offshore coating standards or specifications, the selected products should be checked against the relevant technical documentation.
Corrosion Protection for Valves
Corrosion can affect valve bodies and associated components where protective coatings become damaged or deteriorate.
Common areas requiring attention include:
- Valve bodies
- Flanges
- Bolted connections
- Mounting points
- Welds
- Edges
- Supports
- Coating damage
The appropriate corrosion protection system depends on the valve substrate and environment.
A typical system may include appropriate surface preparation, primer and protective topcoat.
Surface Preparation for Valve Coatings
Correct surface preparation is critical to coating performance.
Before coating a valve, inspect the surface for:
- Rust
- Existing coatings
- Loose paint
- Oil
- Grease
- Dirt
- Dust
- Salt
- Moisture
- Other contamination
Depending on the substrate and specified coating system, preparation may involve:
- Cleaning
- Degreasing
- Mechanical preparation
- Power-tool cleaning
- Abrasive blasting
Oil and grease contamination can be particularly relevant on industrial valves and should be thoroughly addressed before coating.
Our surface preparation guide provides further information on preparing metal surfaces before industrial coating.
Primers for Industrial Valves
A suitable industrial primer can provide the foundation for a protective valve coating system.
Primer selection should consider:
- Valve material
- Surface preparation
- Existing coating
- Environmental exposure
- Corrosivity
- Intended topcoat
- Required durability
The primer and topcoat should be compatible and specified as part of the complete coating system.
Chemical Resistant Valve Coatings
Some valves operate in environments where their external coatings may encounter chemicals, oils, fuels or process materials.
Where chemical exposure is expected, the coating should be selected according to the specific substance and conditions.
Consider:
- Chemical type
- Concentration
- Temperature
- Exposure frequency
- Contact duration
- Cleaning procedures
Chemical resistance varies between products, so the manufacturer's technical documentation should always be checked before specifying a coating.
Abrasion Resistant Coatings for Valves
Industrial valves can be exposed to mechanical wear during manufacture, transportation, installation and operation.
Some applications may therefore require a coating with appropriate abrasion resistance.
Potential sources of wear include:
- Handling
- Maintenance
- Impact
- Equipment movement
- General industrial activity
- Particulate exposure
Where abrasion is a significant consideration, the coating specification should take the expected type and level of wear into account.
High-Temperature Valve Coatings
Some industrial valve applications involve elevated temperatures.
Where this is the case, coating selection should take the expected operating and surface temperature into account.
Not all industrial coatings are suitable for high-temperature applications.
Before specifying a coating, check:
- Maximum operating temperature
- Surface temperature
- Continuous versus intermittent exposure
- Required corrosion protection
- Compatibility with the substrate
- Manufacturer temperature limitations
The relevant technical data should confirm the suitability of the coating for the intended temperature range.
Coatings for Valve Bodies
Valve bodies can contain complex shapes, edges, recesses, flanges and other features that require careful coating application.
Preparation and application should ensure that the coating system achieves the specified coverage across accessible surfaces.
Particular attention may be required around:
- Edges
- Welds
- Flanges
- Bolt areas
- Corners
- Recesses
- Mounting points
Film thickness requirements should be controlled according to the coating specification.
Coating Valve Flanges & Connections
Flanges, bolts and connections can present additional challenges during coating work.
The coating specification should clearly identify which areas are to be coated and which functional surfaces must remain accessible.
Coating should not interfere with:
- Sealing faces
- Threads
- Moving components
- Identification markings
- Actuators
- Mechanical connections
- Equipment operation
Always follow the valve manufacturer's requirements and project specification.
Recoating Existing Industrial Valves
Existing valves can potentially be refurbished where the substrate remains suitable.
Before recoating, assess the existing finish for:
- Rust
- Peeling
- Flaking
- Blistering
- Cracking
- Poor adhesion
- Exposed metal
- Mechanical damage
- Oil contamination
- Chemical deterioration
If the existing coating is sound and compatible, appropriate preparation may allow the new system to be applied over it.
Where the existing coating is failing extensively, additional preparation or removal may be required.
Coating Systems for Industrial Valves
A protective valve coating system may consist of:
Surface Preparation → Primer → Intermediate Coat → Topcoat
The exact specification will depend on:
- Valve substrate
- Existing coating
- Environmental exposure
- Corrosivity
- Chemical exposure
- Temperature
- Required durability
- Project requirements
A complete coating system should be considered rather than selecting individual products independently.
ISO 12944 & Valve Coatings
ISO 12944 provides a framework for selecting protective paint systems for steel structures according to environmental corrosivity and required durability.
This can be relevant to suitable steel valve bodies and associated structures where corrosion protection forms part of the project specification.
Consider the environment in which the valve will operate:
- Indoor
- Outdoor
- Industrial
- Coastal
- Marine
- High humidity
Where an ISO 12944 coating system is specified, the proposed products should be checked against the relevant technical documentation.
Application of Valve Coatings
The selected coating should be applied according to the manufacturer's technical requirements.
Before application, check:
- Surface preparation
- Mixing instructions
- Application method
- Film thickness
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Surface temperature
- Recoat interval
- Drying time
- Curing requirements
Depending on the product and valve size, application may be possible by brush, roller or spray.
For manufactured valves, controlled workshop application can provide advantages in terms of preparation, environmental control and coating consistency.
Drying & Curing
Drying and curing conditions can affect the final coating performance.
Before and during application, consider:
- Air temperature
- Surface temperature
- Humidity
- Condensation
- Ventilation
- Coating thickness
The manufacturer's specified drying and curing requirements should always be followed.
Valves should not be placed into service until the coating system has reached the required stage of cure.
Valve Coatings for Wind Energy
Valves and associated industrial components can also form part of wider energy infrastructure.
Wind energy facilities may contain equipment exposed to outdoor, coastal or offshore conditions.
Where valves are installed in these environments, coating selection should consider:
- Corrosion
- Moisture
- Salt exposure
- UV
- Temperature
- Required durability
Protective coating systems should be selected according to the specific environmental conditions of the installation.
Valve Coatings for Water & Infrastructure
Valves are also used throughout water, utilities and infrastructure projects.
Depending on the application, coatings may need to withstand:
- Moisture
- Humidity
- Corrosion
- Chemical exposure
- Abrasion
- Outdoor weathering
The coating should be selected according to the actual service conditions rather than simply the valve type.
Maintenance of Coated Valves
Regular inspection can help identify coating deterioration before significant corrosion develops.
Inspect for:
- Rust
- Peeling
- Flaking
- Blistering
- Cracking
- Mechanical damage
- Exposed metal
- Chemical deterioration
- General coating breakdown
Pay particular attention to edges, flanges, joints, supports and areas exposed to mechanical damage.
Where deterioration is identified, the underlying cause should be established before specifying repairs.
Common Valve Coating Problems
Rust appearing through the coating
This can indicate corrosion beneath the coating or inadequate surface preparation.
Peeling or flaking
Poor adhesion can result from contamination, insufficient preparation or coating incompatibility.
Blistering
Moisture, contamination or unsuitable application conditions can contribute to blistering.
Chemical attack
Exposure to chemicals, oils or fuels can damage coatings that are not designed for the specific exposure.
Mechanical damage
Handling, installation and maintenance can damage protective coatings and expose the underlying substrate.
Choosing the Right Industrial Valve Coating
Before specifying a coating system, consider:
What is the valve made from?
Steel, stainless steel, cast materials and previously coated substrates can have different requirements.
What environment will it operate in?
Indoor, outdoor, industrial, coastal and offshore environments can have significantly different corrosion risks.
What chemicals will it encounter?
Identify any oils, fuels, chemicals or process substances that could contact the coating.
What temperatures will it experience?
Check both normal and maximum surface temperatures.
What level of corrosion protection is required?
Environmental exposure and required service life should influence system selection.
What preparation is possible?
The substrate condition will determine the appropriate preparation standard.
What areas must remain uncoated?
Sealing faces, threads, moving components and other functional surfaces may need to remain free of coating.
How will the coating be applied?
Workshop spray application, brush, roller and other methods may be appropriate depending on the product and valve.
Industrial Valve Coatings for Demanding Industries
Valves are a particularly important application within several of the high-performance markets served by New Guard Coatings.
From oil & gas and offshore power to wind energy, manufacturing and infrastructure, the right coating system can help protect valve bodies and associated steel components from corrosion and environmental exposure.
Correct surface preparation, primer selection and topcoat specification are essential when developing a durable industrial valve coating system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coating for industrial valves?
The appropriate coating depends on the valve material, operating environment, chemical exposure, temperature and required durability.
Can industrial valves be repainted?
Yes, suitable valves can potentially be refurbished and recoated where the substrate and existing coating are appropriate and correctly prepared.
What coating protects valves from corrosion?
A suitable anti-corrosion coating system can help protect compatible valve surfaces from moisture and environmental exposure.
Can valve coatings resist chemicals?
Some industrial coatings are designed to resist specific chemicals, oils and fuels. Suitability should always be confirmed against the manufacturer's technical data.
Can valves be coated for offshore applications?
Suitable protective coating systems can be specified for compatible offshore applications where they provide the required corrosion protection and environmental resistance.
Do industrial valves need a primer?
A primer may form part of a multi-layer protective coating system. The correct primer depends on the valve substrate and complete coating specification.
Can you coat over existing valve paint?
Potentially, provided the existing coating is sound, suitably prepared and compatible with the proposed system.
Can valve coatings withstand high temperatures?
Some specialist coating systems are designed for elevated-temperature applications. The manufacturer's specified temperature limits should always be checked.
Is ISO 12944 relevant to valve coatings?
ISO 12944 can be relevant to protective coating systems for suitable steel structures. The applicable environmental category and durability requirements should be established for the project.
How long does an industrial valve coating last?
There is no universal service life. Performance depends on the coating system, substrate, preparation, application, environmental exposure and maintenance.
Protecting Industrial Valves Against Corrosion
Valves can operate in some of the UK's most demanding industrial environments, making appropriate corrosion protection essential.
Whether used in oil and gas, offshore power, wind energy, manufacturing or infrastructure, a correctly specified industrial coating system can help protect suitable valve surfaces against corrosion, weathering, chemicals and general wear.
New Guard Coatings supplies protective coating solutions for industrial valves and associated steelwork across the UK.