Abstract
Rapid corrosion of steel occurs in cargo tanks of Navy tankers when successive cargoes of gasoline are carried. The corrosion results from salt water ballast, hot salt water jets used for gas-freezing and moisture, in conjunction with the gasoline.
The nature of the structures is such that only air drying paints are practicable. Search for such coatings began about 1943. Certain coatings were applied to several ships about 1947. Service under operating conditions resulted in the selection of a vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer as most promising. General use of this coating on certain tanks of submarines began in 1948. Active use on tankers began in 1951. Trial on tank cars was started in 1950. Two hundred cars are now in use transporting aviation gasoline and jet fuel.
A large number of materials, including many proprietary coating systems, have been tested. Laboratory tests are still continuing. As warranted, service trials are contemplated on additional materials, some of which are sufficiently promising to warrant direct comparison to the present standard under operating conditions.
A discussion of the problem of coating underground concrete gasoline storage tanks is included, using data furnished by the Naval Research Laboratory.
The paper will also include a discussion of surface preparation, ventilation, safety precautions and costs. Likewise, a discussion of methods other than coatings which have been investigated to reduce this corrosion problem will be included.
