SPECIFICATION

SURFACE PREPARATION, APPLICATION AND

TESTING PROCEDURES AND MATERIAL
SPECIFICATION FOR THICK FILM 250 MIL
SPECLAD CORROSION PROTECTION SYSTEM
FOR TUBESHEETS
#STS-10
1.0 Purpose: The purpose of this document is to establish the Surface
Preparation Procedures, Coating Application Procedures, Testing
Procedures, Materials used in the SPECO SPECLAD Thick Film 250 mil
Tube Sheet Cladding Process.
2.0 References: SSPC-SP1, SSPC-SP5, SSPC-VIS 1, and SSPC-SP1.
3.0 Precautions/Limitations:
3.1 Containment: No special containment procedures are required
during the surface preparation or coating application of the SPECO
SPECLAD system.
3.2 Waste Disposal: Care should be taken to see that all of the spent
blasting media is put into drums for proper disposal by the owner.
4.0 Special Tools/Equipment:
4.1 Testex Press-O-Film Replica Tape, or Keene-Tator Anchor Profile
Comparator and Micrometer.
4.2 Wet Film Thickness Gauge (WFT)
4.3 Positector 6000 DFT on non-magnetic or non-ferrous tube sheets
4.4 Laboratory triple beam balance
4.5 MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) Solvent
4.6 Non-waxed Paper Cups for mixing materials
4.7 Plastic Sheeting & Duct Tape for masking and dust control
4.8 Miscellaneous items such as clean rags, paper towels, special
Speco brushes and hand trowels.

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 2

5.0 Materials Storage/Inventory Control:
5.1 Materials Storage/Inventory Control: SPECLAD, SPEFLEX and
SPECURE can be stored for a minimum for 1-2 years at ambient
temperature. If the ambient temperature is less than 60F, the material
should be stored at 60-70F for at least 24-48 hours prior to use.
6.0 Initial Conditions:
6.1 Work and QC to be done by Speco International, L.L.C. Acceptance
will be by owner and Speco International, L.L.C.
6.2 Initial Cleaning: Any coating or lining presently installed shall be
completely removed. Residual grease and oil shall be removed in
accordance with SSPC-SP1 (if necessary) prior to abrasive blast
cleaning. All surfaces to be coated shall be abrasive blast cleaned to
the requirements of SSPC-SP5. Other methods of cleaning, e.g., very
high-pressure water, may be used to remove any existing coating;
however, final surface preparation shall be by abrasive blast cleaning.
All sharp edges shall be rounded to 1/8 radius or greater.
6.3 Disposition of Temporary/Removable Tube Plugs: Plugged tubes that
have been plugged and coated with a removable temporary epoxy type
putty coating shall have the coating removed and the tube sheet
crevice will be recleaned and recoated to seal the crevice.
6.4 Existing corrosion to be removed with Kleen Blast. Final profile shall
be obtained with Kleen Blast, Aluminum Oxide, or Garnet.
6.5 Tube trimming and/or Tube Flaring: Tubes on the outlet tube sheets
will need to be trimmed to a maximum of .25 offset from the tube
sheet surface.
6.6 Engineering Hold Point and QC Inspection.
7.0 Surface Preparation:
7.1 Abrasive Material: Abrasive material used for blast cleaning shall
develop a fine sharp anchor pattern with a profile of 3.0 mils minimum.
Kleen Blast, Garnet, aluminum oxide, or equal are acceptable
abrasives. Abrasive blasting shall not reduce the thickness of the
substrate to the extent that scoured depressions are evident as a result
of the abrasive impinging too long on one spot.
7.2 Air Supply Cleanliness: Compressed air used shall be checked for the
presence of oil by wiping a clean white cloth over a clean, smooth
metal surface upon which the air stream has been impinged for a
period of not less than 2 minutes. The orifice being held not more than
18 away from the surface. Alternatively, the air stream may be

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 3

projected against a square of white blotter taped around its complete
periphery to a substantial surface. Sufficient freedom from oil is
confirmed if no soiling or discoloration is visible. If air contamination
is evidenced, the filters shall be changed or cleaned, traps emptied,
after coolers, moisture separators or filters added, the equipment
maintained, or such adjustments made as may otherwise be required
to achieve clean air. This evaluation shall be done in the shade. The
test shall be performed for each compressor used during a given shift,
no sooner than one-half hour after starting the compressor.
7.3 Environmental Conditions: The surface should be clean and dry. The
surface shall be heated between approximately 75-85F prior to
coating. The surface temperature shall be 5 degrees higher than the
dew point temperature (minimum) during coating. In no event shall
coating begin or continue if there is any visual evidence of the surface
turning or corroding after blasting. Ambient temperature 60 - 90F
shall be maintained. Ventilation shall be by a Speco Venturi Venting
System.
7.4 Degree of Surface Cleanliness: After blasting, traces or accumulations
of spent residual abrasives that are evident shall be removed by
vacuuming or blown down. If vacuuming is used, the attachments
shall be free of oil, grease, or dirt. The surface shall be inspected 15
min. after vacuuming to assure that dust has not resettled on the
blasted surfaces. If dust has resettled, vacuuming or blow down shall
be repeated until dust is no longer evident.
7.4.1 Discoloration of the surface will also indicate if contamination has
occurred. If it is suspected that the moisture separators and after
coolers are not removing all the moisture and oil from the compressed
air, the abrasive shall be turned off and the airstream from the blast
nozzle checked for traces of water or oil. The surface should be
heated to between 80 - 90F and may be reheated after the original
abrasive blasting, followed by a light touch blasting.
7.5 Inspection Hold Point: All surfaces prepared for lining application
during a given shift shall be visually examined for compliance with the
requirements of this specification. The degree of surface cleanliness
achieved shall be verified to meet the intent of SSPC-SP5. SSPC-VIS
1 visual standards shall be used for comparison. Anchor pattern and
profile shall be verified by the use of Testex Press-O-Film Replica
Tape, or Keene-Tator Anchor Profile Comparator. Micrometers used
in conjunction with the Press-O-Film shall be calibrated.

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 4

8.0 Coating Application
8.1 Setting Plugs for DFT: SPECLAD is applied in a continuous process so
that the coating WFT may be checked throughout to verify thickness.
Coating thickness during the coating process is also governed and
maintained by the height of the plastic plugs used for plugging the
condenser tubes. Plugs are set into the tubes at 250 mil height from
the tube sheet using a steel plate w/ spacers. After the SPECLAD
coating is applied, the system should be allowed to achieve a partial
cure overnight or for 8-12 hours. The SPECLAD coating system shall
then be sanded to a smooth finish with the plastic plugs left in place.
When a smooth planar surface has been achieved the plastic plugs
can be removed. The smooth, planar SPECLAD surface will then be
given a finish coat of 2-3 mils of SPEFLEX for cosmetic purposes only.
After the finish coat has been applied and set, the system shall be
allowed to cure for 16 hours at 70F ambient temperature or 24 hours
at 60F ambient temperature.
8.2 Environmental Conditions: The surface should be clean and dry. The
surface shall be heated between approximately 75-85F prior to
coating. The surface temperature shall be 5 degrees higher than the
dew point temperature (minimum) during coating. In no event shall
coating begin or continue if there is any visual evidence of the surface
turning or corroding after blasting. Ambient temperature of 60 - 90F
shall be maintained. Ventilation shall be by a Speco Venturi Venting
System.
8.3 Mixing and Pot Life: All Speco materials are weighed on laboratory
beam balance scales prior to mixing for application. These scales
weigh within an accuracy of 1 gram to be sure the correct amount of
base material and reactor is placed in the cup for mixing. This assures
that, when mixed, all materials will be fully reacted and a homogenous
finished coating results. Speco materials are of easily workable
consistency that makes possible full mixing contact of reactor and base
material molecules. They are not thick pastes which are difficult to mix
adequately and where each molecule of the reactor has difficulty
moving through the matrix in an effort to attach itself to the base
molecules.
8.4 Recoat Window:
The coating shall be the SPECO SPECLAD CORROSION
PROTECTION SYSTEM applied by employees of Speco International,
L.L.C. The mixing of all materials shall be in accordance with Speco
instructions. Maximum Recoat time for the material is 15-20 minutes
@ 77F. Pot life of the material is 15 minutes at 77F. The first coat

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 5

shall be SPECLAD applied by trowel to a thickness of 250 5 mils.
The finish coat (for cosmetic purposes only) shall be SPEFLEX applied
by roller on a continuous basis to a thickness of 2-5 mils. In no case
shall the total DFT be less than 250 mils. In areas of deep pits, coating
thickness may increase to 300+ mils.
8.5 Inspection Hold Point: The coating system shall be visually inspected
for pinholes and other coating defects. All pinholes and defects shall
be marked and repaired. Repairs shall be done in accordance with
Speco International, L.L.C. Bulletin # 9.45A. The DFT shall be
measured by using a magnetic gage or Positector. In the case of a
non-magnetic or non-ferrous tube sheets, the Positector 6000 will be
used. Areas with less than 250 mils coating thickness shall be sanded
and recoated to build the thickness to within tolerance. Coating
thickness in excess of 250 mils shall not be ground down. All tests
shall be conducted in the presence of the assigned inspector from the
Owner/ Engineer staff. All documentation shall be completed daily or
as required, by the Speco Project Manager. All such documentation
shall be done at the site prior to the workdays end. The Speco Project
Manager shall ensure that all records are completed daily or as
required. After completing the days work, all materials, tools, and
equipment shall be properly stored in a protected area or locked tool
room so that they will be ready for work the next day and not be
subject to damage, contamination, etc., during the time they are in
storage.
8.6 The following standards shall apply:
SSPC-SP 5
SSPC-VIS 1
9.0 Grinding Excess Build Coat/Coating Continuity:
9.1 In no case shall the DFT be below 250 mils. In areas of deep pits,
coating thickness may increase to 300+ mils. After the SPECLAD
coating is applied, the system should be allowed to achieve a partial
cure overnight or for 8-12 hours. The SPECLAD coating system shall
be sanded to a smooth finish with the plastic plugs left in place.
9.2 Coating Plug Removal: When a smooth planar surface has been
achieved the plastic plugs are to be removed. The smooth, planar
SPECLAD surface will then be given a finish coat of 2-5 mils of
SPEFLEX for cosmetic purposes only. After the finish coat has been
applied and set, the system shall be allowed to cure for 16 hours at
70F ambient temperature or 24 hours at 60F ambient temperature.

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 6

9.3 Inspection Hold Point: The coating system shall be tested 100%
visually for pinholes. Any pinhole shall be marked and repaired.
These and such other repairs shall be done in accordance with Speco
Bulletin 9.45A or paragraph 10.0.
9.3.1 The DFT shall be measured by using a magnetic gage or
Positector. In the case of a non-magnetic or non-ferrous tube
sheets, the Positector 6000 will be used. Areas with less than
250 mils coating thickness shall be sanded and recoated to
bring the thickness within tolerance. Coating thickness in
excess of 250 mils shall not be ground down.
9.3.2 All tests shall be conducted in the presence of the assigned
inspector from the Owner/Engineer staff.
9.3.3 All documentation shall be completed daily or as required, by
the Speco Project Manager. All such documentation shall be
done at the site prior to the workdays end. The Speco Project
Manager shall ensure that all records are completed daily or as
required.
9.3.4 After completing the days work, all materials, tools, and
equipment shall be properly stored in a protected area or locked
tool room so that they will be ready for work the next day and
not subject to damage, contamination, etc., during the time they
are in storage.
9.3.4 The following standards shall apply:
SSPC-SP 5
SSPC-VIS 1
10.0 Touch-Up/Minor Repair (Please refer to Bulletin 9.45A):
10.1 SPECLAD is a high-technology protective coating; to repair damaged
areas these instructions must be followed carefully.
10.2 To repair damages that have occurred in shipment or are noticed at
time of installation, or have occurred during operation. Whatever the
cause, it is essential that any damaged areas are repaired as any
pinholes or re-coat areas will cause concentrated corrosion or
galvanic action.
10.3 Where the coating has been chipped due to a blow or shock, the area
around the chip must be probed with a knife and all loose coating
must be removed. Cracks that cannot be seen may exist, and the
cracked material must be removed with a knife of chisels by prying
up the edges of the chip. The coating around the area to be repaired
must be adhering firmly to the surface. Dont be afraid to remove a
little excess material.

SPECLAD PROCEDURES PAGE 7

10.4 For a small area sandpaper the base metal and the surrounding
coating. For a larger area, mask off the good coating and sandblast
the surrounding material and bare base metal. If oil or grease has
gotten on the material around the are to be repaired it must be
removed completely.
10.5 For large areas it is essential to heat the base metal to 80-90F to
remove all moisture. It is easiest to heat the metal from the rear
with a torch or butane space heater.
10.6 Mix SPECLAD and SPEFLEX in accordance with the directions on
the label of the can. The patch should be built up to the thickness of
the original coating. For small patches use a single coat of SPECLAD
followed by a 2-5 mil coat of SPEFLEX. Allow the coating to set for
16 hours at room temperature to fully cure. If it is cold, you can warm
the metal to 80-90F for an hour to speed up the curing process.
10.7 Helpful Hints: Mix the materials in a non-waxed paper cup or clean
dry tin can. Weigh the materials with a beam balance using 18.6
parts SPECURE to 100 parts SPECLAD or SPEFLEX. Use a putty
knife or stiff brush to apply the material. Do not mix too much
material as it sets in about 15 minutes at room temperature. If the
material gets hot in the container, it has begun setting and should not
be applied to the patch. Work the material in with the putty knife or
brush to eliminate air bubbles.