Fitz’s Atlas
of Coating Defects

Fitz’s Atlas of Coating Defects is a 200 page, pocket-sized ring binder including more than 190 illustrations to provide the most comprehensive visual guide to Coating and Surface Defects, this book is highly regarded for its capacity to identify coating failures and offer comprehensive insights into the possible causes of these issues, along with recommendations for their resolution. It is extensively employed by coating inspectors, surveyors, and technicians.

Each section has been compiled by Coating Specialists who understand Paint Coatings and their Application and as such will provide a useful pictorial reference to all who use and encounter Paint Coatings, their Defects and Failures. The Atlas is a 4¾” x 7¼” 250 page ring binder with detailed illustrations.

Fitz’s Atlas 2 covers 93 categories and contains a total of 237 high definition photographs, which cover Welding Faults, Surface Conditions, Coating Defects, Microscopy and Marine Fouling. Each defect generally contains several examples to give the applicator or inspector a thorough understanding of the coating failure. Select the categories listed here to get further details

WORLD LEADING REFERENCE, SINCE IT’S FIRST PUBLICATION IN 1996, FITZ ATLAS HAS GROWN TO BECOME THE MARKET LEADING GUIDE FOR COATING DEFECTS. CREATED BY COATING EXPERTS, IT PROVIDES INVALUABLE EXAMPLES TO HELP COATING APPLICATORS AND INSPECTORS TO IDENTIFY AND FIX COATING ISSUES.

COATINGS DEFECTS CONTENTS

Welding Faults

Welding Faults

A number of Welding faults that could be related to coating application and performance problems are included with a description, probable causes, suggestions for repair and comments.

• Welds
• Welding Faults
• Cracks
• Crater Pipes
• Excess Penetration Bead
• Root Concavity
• Spatter
• Stray Arcing
• Surface Porosity
• Undercut

Surface Conditions

Surface Conditions

Included are descriptions and photographic illustrations of various steel conditions prior to preparation and examples of problem areas.

• Surface Preparation
• Corrosion Trap
• Poor Design
• Edges - Flame Cut
• Edges - Sharp
• Millscale
• Millscale - "A" quality steel
• Millscale - "B" quality steel
• Millscale - "C" quality steel
• Oil Contamination
• Skip Weld
• Slag

Coatings Defects

Coatings Defects

This is the main section of the book where every type of coating and application defect has been reviewed and the book details the defect, a description, probable causes and suggestions for repair. All coating and application defects have high quality photographic examples allowing the reader to assess the probable type of defect. The section contains 237 photographs in 93 categories.

Microscopy

Microscopy

The Microscopy section demonstrates the use of Microscopy to assist in the investigation of coating failures and the characterisation of coating defects.

Thirty nine photomicrographs in twenty categories, of surface and cross section of paint flakes, are shown to illustrate a range of defects.

• Blisters
• Bubbles
• Cohesive Failure
• Contamination
• Cracking
• Delamination
• Edge Coverage
• Exudation
• Incompatibility
• Inclusions

• Non-Coalesced Film
• Multi-Coats
• Staining
• Scale
• Surface Profile
• Under-Film Corrosion
• Undispersed Pigment
• Pinholes
• Voids/Vacuoles
• Weed/Algae Fouling

Marine Fouling

Marine Fouling

Various types of animal and plant marine fouling organisms are described, classified and illustrated with photographic examples. Photographs of ships are also included to show the appearance of self polishing antifouling coatings after some time in service.

• Barnacles - Acorn
• Barnacles - Gooseneck
• Ectocarpus (brown algae - grass)
• Ectocarpus and Enteromorpha
• Enteromorpha (green grass)
• Hydroid - Tubularia
• Molluscs
• Molluscs and Acorn Barnacles
• Polishing of Antifouling coatings
• Polyzoa
• Rhodophycea (red algae)
• Tubeworms
• Turnicate - sea squirt

COMMON DEFECTS AS THEY HAPPEN

DETAILED EXAMPLES AND GUIDANCE

A few examples taken from Fitz’s  few examples taken from Fitz’s Atlas 2 of Coating 

Alligatoring

Description

Very large (macro) crazing/cracking which resembles the skin of an alligator or crocodile. Cracks may penetrate through to the undercoat or down to the substrate.

Probable Cause

Internal stresses in the coating where the surface shrinks faster than the body of the paint film. Excessive film thickness and limited paint flexibility. Application of a hard topcoat over a more flexible softer undercoat. Application of topcoat before the undercoat has dried.

Prevention

Use correct coating specification and compatible materials. Avoid excessive film thickness. Avoid application at high ambient temperatures.

Repair

Repair will depend upon size and extent of alligatoring. Abrade or remove all affected coats and apply suitable undercoat and topcoat. Follow recommended application procedures.

Blistering – Osmotic

Description

Dome shaped projections or blisters in the dry paint film through local loss of adhesion from an underlying coating.

Probable Cause

Osmotic blistering is commonly associated with the presence of soluble salts, soluble pigments, soluble corrosion products, retained solvents or the absorption and retention of low molecular weight water miscible solvents, typically from the carriage of chemical cargoes.

Prevention

Ensure correct surface preparation and application and follow working procedures for ventilation etc. Apply a suitable coating system after testing for soluble salts. Consider the possibility of the different blister mechanisms in the particular environment.

Repair

Depending upon size and type of blistering, remove blistered areas or entire coating system, fresh water wash and repair or fully recoat.