To protect any type of metal water storage tank, corrosion engineers recommend choosing a suitable metal coating.

Developed through extensive research in corrosion engineering, there are a number of coatings now available that will prevent decay and promote a longer service life for expensive metal tanks used to store water and other liquids.

Read here about coatings recommended by corrosion engineering services and the benefits they offer when used appropriately!

1. Paint-On Coatings

Paint-on coatings are some of the first coatings developed by corrosion engineers and the most commonly used to this point.

They are highly affordable and accessible protectants used in a variety of applications, with different formulations available for use on different types of metal and under different operating environments.

As easy and cost-effective as paint-on coatings have been to use for decades, corrosion engineering services are phasing them out in favor of other coatings that are VOC-free, more durable, and longer-lasting in comparison.

2. Powder Coating

Growing in popularity is powder coating, as corrosion engineering tests find it to be extremely reliable corrosion-proofing when properly applied.

This baked-on, VOC-free powder coating turns into a ceramic or epoxy layer that bonds to the metal, providing superior protection.

The main challenge with powder coating is the cost of applying it, as it must be sprayed on in a paint booth, then baked in an oven as one continuous coating.

Size limitations make it impossible to treat exceptionally large tanks.

3. Anodizing

Anodizing is a metal coating method that corrosion engineers recommend mostly for aluminum.

It is done by submerging the aluminum tank in a larger tank of electrolytic solution, with an aluminum or lead cathode.

By delivering electrical current through the aluminum, an oxidized, protective coating is formed on its surface.

Anodizing is easy to maintain, long-lasting, and non-toxic, the main drawback being that it can only be used on aluminum.

4. Galvanizing

Galvanizing involves dipping metal, usually iron or steel, into molten zinc, then allowing the zinc to chemically react to the base metal.

Corrosion engineering experts find galvanizing to be a recommended coating for tanks as the zinc coating does not flake off easily and adheres closely to the base metal.

It is a durable coating option that is cost-effective for larger items, making it ideal for storage tanks.

A disadvantage is the dull gray, unfinished appearance of metals that have been galvanized.

5. Electroplating

Electroplating is a process used by corrosion engineering services that involves applying a thin layer of one metal onto another metal, then putting both in an electrolytic solution.

When an electrical current is applied, one metal acts as an anode while the other is a cathode and the ions from the anode move to the cathode side to become a coating.

Electroplating is highly resistant to corrosion, but the coating can form non-uniformly.

It is also an expensive process and requires the use of toxic compounds to generate the electroplated coating.