ALKA · AUSTRALIAN COATINGS MANUFACTURER
Refineries
Define protection around the refinery service conditions.
SERVICE & APPLICATIONS
Protection matched to the asset.
A refinery combines atmospheric structures, difficult maintenance areas and chemical containment with specialist process equipment. ALKA coating routes address the defined corrosion and lining duties while keeping thermal and fire-protection requirements separate.
Atmospheric structures
Prepared pipe racks, platforms and structural members can use MIO barrier protection where the finish requirements suit.
Demanding repairs
Surface-tolerant MIO glass-flake epoxy supports a maintenance route around the substrate and achievable preparation.
Chemical containment
Bunds, sumps and selected tank linings need chemical-specific selection and a documented inspection plan.
ALKYD PRIMERS · ENAMELS · SINGLE-PACK FINISHING
Define a separate finish for ordinary ancillary steel
Single-pack primer/enamel finishes may be considered for selected sheltered equipment covers, workshop assemblies and dry service steel. Refinery process duty is highly variable, so the coating schedule must distinguish these components from hot, chemically exposed or insulated assets.
Products to assess for the job
- ALKA 401 · Alkyd zinc phosphate primer
Prepared carbon steel; a corrosion-inhibiting primer for compatible alkyd and enamel finishing routes.
- ALKA 403 · Red oxide anti-corrosive primer
A primer option for prepared ferrous metal, fabricated steel and general maintenance; confirm the selected finish compatibility.
- ALKA 410 · Rapid-cure protective enamel
A gloss finishing option for machinery, fabricated components and maintenance work over a compatible prepared and primed surface.
Select a complete, compatible primer and finish. The products above are options by role, not a blanket approval to combine every primer and topcoat.
What the applicator or specifier needs
Classify surface temperature, chemical and fuel exposure, insulation and washdown by item. Include shutdown cleaning and upset conditions in the service review.
Remove contamination before surface preparation and inspect the retained coating. Agree a trial area and repair boundaries where existing finishes will remain.
Coordinate application and cure with the site work controls and restart plan. Keep coating records linked to the specific component and exposure.
Write a usable coating schedule
Specify the substrate and preparation, exact primer and finish, individual-coat dry-film thickness, application method, thinning limits, recoat interval and service-cure requirement from current product data. For repainting, document the retained coating and a representative compatibility trial before full application.
Choose the coating for the exposure
Immersion, fuel contact, chemical spills, hot surfaces and corrosion under insulation need separate engineered specifications.
A single-pack route can simplify small batches and routine repainting because it does not require mixing a separate hardener. It still depends on sound preparation, suitable film build and the correct recoat window. Where exposure or the required maintenance interval is more demanding, assess the relevant two-pack epoxy, polyurethane or specialist lining system.
Does fast drying mean the part is ready for service?
No. Touch-dry, recoatable, handleable and fully cured describe different stages. Use the selected product data and actual application conditions to plan each stage. Excessive film build, early overcoating or premature handling can compromise the finish; adding extra thinner or a hardener is not a substitute for the specified application procedure.
SELECT THE COMPLETE BUILD
ALKA systems for this application.
| System | Why select it | Coating build | Total DFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALKA-9933 High-Barrier Atmospheric | MIO barrier technology improves resistance to moisture, oxygen and salt penetration Prepared steel in industrial, marine-atmospheric and salt-laden environments above the waterline | Alka 404 or Alka 416 primer → Alka 413 MIO high-build epoxy barrier coat | 225–275 µm |
| ALKA-9937 Severe Maintenance | Combines surface tolerance, high build and glass-flake barrier performance for demanding maintenance work Prepared steel, galvanised steel, aluminium or stainless steel in difficult maintenance environments, subject to technical approval | Alka 418 MIO glass-flake surface-tolerant epoxy; one or two coats as specified | Nominal 250–600 µm depending on coat schedule |
| ALKA-9936 Chemical-Resistant Lining | Higher chemical resistance than standard epoxy systems for demanding process environments Prepared steel or concrete in tanks, bunds, process areas and secondary containment | Alka Tanklin 100 and/or Alka Tanklin Chem system selected to suit the chemical service | 450–600 µm |
DFT = dry-film thickness. These are nominal system totals; individual-coat thicknesses and application conditions belong in the final coating schedule.
SPECIFICATION & APPLICATION
From surface preparation to return to service.
Build the coating schedule around the substrate and the work that can be achieved on site. For refurbishment, assess the adhesion and compatibility of retained coatings before defining repair boundaries.
- 01Surface temperature and insulation
- 02Existing coating condition
- 03Chemical and cleaning exposure
- 04Preparation and shutdown constraints
Record surface preparation, environmental conditions, coverage at details and coat thickness. Allow for the specified recoat and cure periods, then inspect and repair defects before release to service.
A coordinated coating build
Schematic, not to scale. Follow the selected system for products, layer count and thickness.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
Details that affect system selection.
What should a refinery maintenance coating brief include?
Identify the equipment surface, operating temperature, existing coating and preparation constraints. Add contamination, chemical contact and the outage period, then distinguish ordinary atmospheric work from specialist process duties.
What belongs in the final technical submission?
Include current TDS and SDS, substrate preparation, the product and thickness schedule, application conditions, inspection criteria and cure requirements. For chemical or immersed service, include written suitability for the actual exposure. Any required certification or durability commitment must be supported by the relevant evidence.
CUI, high-temperature equipment and hydrocarbon fire protection require dedicated product evidence and approved designs. No such qualification is implied by a general refinery application listing.
PRODUCTS & TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS
Go directly to the product information.
Read the published technical data sheets below, or open a product overview. Request the current SDS set and confirm the document revisions for your specification before procurement.
MANUFACTURER TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Turn the service conditions into a coating specification.
Send the asset, substrate, exposure and maintenance window. ALKA can help define the coating build, preparation and technical documentation for your review.