High temperature and pressure environments in treaters, separators, pipelines and other process vessels can put a great deal of stresses on coating systems, affecting the coatings’ physical performance and leading to structural changes within the coating materials themselves, such as softening, electrical impedance reduction, coating thickness change, and alteration of permeability, etc. Therefore, it is very important to determine how coating systems will perform under these adverse conditions and which coating system is best suited for a particular application.
The Autoclave test is designed to simulate the aggressive field service environments in controlled laboratory conditions. In autoclave testing, the coating materials are applied to test panels and exposed to an aqueous solution such as produced water or salt water, oil or hydrocarbons, and/or gas mixtures that may contain hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, or other components as applicable at process temperature and pressure.
Our laboratory Autoclave facility consists of a high-pressure and high-temperature test vessel, temperature control unit, high pressure gas compression system (gas boosters for different gases), and ventilation system. The capacities of our autoclave can achieve pressures up to 6000 psig (41 MPa) and temperature up to 230°C (450°F). In addition, gases can be added as, for example, CO2, H2S, CH4 and N2 and all kinds of test liquids can be introduced into desired concentrations. The duration of test ranges from 24 hours up to a month or longer.
Test methods for the Autoclave are available in:
- NACE TM 0185
- ISO 15741 Annex C
- ISO 15741 Annex D
- API RP 5L7 Appendix 10
- API RP 5L2 Appendix E
- SY/T 0544 Appendix C
- SY/T 6717 Appendix C
- Custom tests can be designed to meet special service conditions
Test Samples:
6″ × (1.5-2)” × (0.125-0.25)” all-side coated steel panels