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EPRI

 

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November 2009: Storm Greeter began its first round of testing at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Charlotte, NC.  Storm Greeter passed all thresholds for immersion applications.

In 2013, Storm Greeter completed a second round of testing at EPRI, this time with a UV inhibitor added.  Both rounds of testing were at the request of the largest utility holding corporation in the USA.  EPRI uses a 4 Tier protocol for testing coatings.

These tests include the following:

  • Coating Thickness Measurements per ASTM G12
  • Pinhole testing per NACE RP0188-99, Low-Voltage Wet Sponge Testing (Holiday Test). This test was performed after a weight was dropped from increasing heights onto a Storm Greeter coated test coupon. After each drop, the holiday test was performed. If the coating passed the test, the weight was dropped from a greater height.
  • Adhesion Testing per ASTM D4541. A majority of these tests were deemed inconclusive because the adhesion between the glue holding the testing equipment to Storm Greeter was weaker than Storm Greeter’s grip on the substrate. In tests that succeeded, EPRI observed 60% adhesion failure, 30% cohesion failure (an inner layer of Storm Greeter remained on the substrate) and 10% coating failure.
  • Stereo Light Microscopy Photographs
  • Cathodic Disbondment Testing per a modified ASTM G8
  • Metallographic Cross-Section Analysis
  • Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) Testing (336 hours of hot water immersion)

The 4-Tier Protocol breaks down in this way:

Test: Tier: Description:
NACE RP0188-99

1

Discontinuity test.  Post-impact holiday test, utilizing increasing impact force to facilitate failure of the coating
ASTM D870

1

Ionic Passage – Biological Damage, hot water immersion
ASTM D4541-02

1

Adhesion
ASTM G8-Modified

1

Cathodic Disbondment
ASTM E3-01

1

Thickness
ASTM D2794

1

Resistance to Soil Stress – Impact
ASTM D522

1

Resistance to Soil Stress – Bend
ASTM D1654-05

2

Undercutting – Exposed to Cyclic Salt Spray
ASTM G106-89

2

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
ASTM D2794

2

Resistance to Soil Stress – Impact
ASTM D522

2

Resistance to Soil Stress – Bend
ASTM D4541-02

2

Adhesion
ASTM D2244-05

3

Color, Appearance Pursuant to UV Exposure
ASTM D523 Modified

3

Gloss, Appearance Pursuant to UV Exposure
ASTM D4541-02

3

Adhesion
ASTM D2794

3

Resistance to Soil Stress – Impact
ASTM D522

3

Resistance to Soil Stress – Bend

The 4th Tier of the testing protocol is for bench-marking and documentation of the coating.