: Application Notes

Please note NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661 Standard/High Build have been successfully applied to ballast tanks on numerous occasions.

Ballast tanks are situated below sea level; that means the steel walls can have a very high rust profile and are never dry when the tanks are empty. This is because of high humidity and condensation.

The design/layout of ballast tanks allow very little daylight. This renders them very difficult for applying paint successfully. As a result, shipping companies look for products like NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661, because shotblasting is impossible due to the confined areas of the tank, poor visibility and maneuverability, and finally, poor ventilation to allow shotblast dust to be extracted.

Blast ballast walls with high-pressure water jets, rinsing with detergent and drying with pumped forced-air. This will remove any salt water deposits, loosen rust scale, oil, grease etc. The forced air drying will also dry out the now clean, hard rusted surface and counteract condensation build-up.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT FORCED-AIR DRYING CONTINUE TO ASSIST THE NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661 TO DRY QUICKLY.

Normally it is recommended that 3 coats of NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661 High Build be used as per instructions, 150 microns WFT per coat, on heavy rusted profiles of the ballast tank walls. However the thickness of the wet film will take longer to dry in such an environment. Hence, THE IMPORTANCE OF FORCED-AIR DRYING. NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661 Standard is not recommended because the paint film is often too thin for the heavily rusted ballast tank walls and its viscosity will allow it to run down the walls, especially if the walls are still damp. However, if NEUTRA RUSTŪ 661 Standard is used, 6 coats will be needed to reach its correct DFT.

Inspection for the correct thickness of dry film is important.

THE LAST TWO STAGES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

- After final coat has been applied, forced air drying must continue to help totally dry out the thick film of Neutra Rust 661.

The ballast tanks are then left for 10 days before filling with sea water.
Please note many ship owners then paint marine epoxy over the
Neutra Rust 661 to give a much longer life, etc.

Please note: Some paint manufacturers who specialize in ballast tank coatings require a 2 week dry out period in summer and 4 weeks in winter, and longer if conditions apply as described in this letter. However, we know ship owners cannot afford to wait that long which is one of the major reasons they turn to Neutra Rust 661, etc.