Below is a list of some of the most significant definitions for surface treatment of wind turbine towers (these are definitions taken from ISO 12944-1 to ISO 12944-9 unless otherwise specified).
Thermal sprayed metallic coat:
Thermal-sprayed metallic coatings are produced by heating the coating metal to its molten stage and projecting it in a stream of gas onto the prepared surface to be coated.
Priming coat:
The first coat of a coating system. Priming coats provide good adhesion to sufficiently roughened and cleaned metal, ensuring a sound base for, and offering adhesion to, the subsequent coats. Primers normally also provide corrosion protection during the whole surface life of the paint system.
Topcoat:
The final coat of a coating system.
Sealer coat (also called a mist coat):
This is a coating material applied to porous surface prior to painting to reduce the absorptivity to avoid pinholes.
Durability:
The expected life of a protective paint system to the first major maintenance painting. Durability is a technical consideration/planning parameter that can help the owner set up a maintenance programme. This should not be understood as a warranty.
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Durability scale |
|
|
Low (L) |
up to 7 years |
| Medium (M) | 7 years to 15 years |
| High (H) | 15 years to 25 years |
| Very high (VH) | more than 25 years |
Metallisation:
A cathodic corrosion protection of the steel surface.
Paint:
A pigmented coating material which, when applied to a substrate, forms an opaque dried film having protective, decorative or specific technical properties [ISO 4618].
Protective coating/paint system:
The sum total of the coats of metal materials and/or paints or related products which are to be applied or which have been applied to a substrate to provide corrosion protection
Significant surface:
The part of the structure covered or to be covered by the coating system and for which the coating is essential for serviceability and/or appearance and where the coating shall meet all of the specified requirements.
Local thickness:
The mean of the thickness measurements, of which a specified number is made within a reference area.
Minimum local thickness:
The lowest value of the local thicknesses found on the significant surface of a single structure.
Maximum local thickness:
The highest value of the local thicknesses found on the significant surface of a single structure.
Average thickness:
Either the value obtained by analytical methods or the mean of a specified number of local thickness measurements that are evenly distributed over the significant surface.