State-of-the-Art Review of the Performance of FBE Pipeline Coatings

The project reviewed the long-term field performance and the failure modes and effects of fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) external pipeline coating. Field data obtained from PRCI member companies were used to validate information obtained from the review of the technical literature. Although all potential failure modes are considered, particular attention is paid to: the effects of operating at temperatures greater than 150F (65C); the effect of cathodic protection (CP) and; the detection of holidays and the impact of high test voltages. The fact that FBE, even when disbonded, continues to permit penetration of CP to the pipe surface ensures that even “failed” coating does not represent an integrity threat to the pipe. The overwhelming evidence from the long-term field data that have been obtained for this study is that FBE coatings of all generations, in conjunction with a functional CP system, have and continue to protect the pipe from external corrosion and SCC. The final report of this research is available at no cost to PRCI members and for sale to non-members.  (PRCI Project EC-3-13)