Field applied tape coatings are largely used worldwide for the external corrosion prevention of buried pipelines. In our presentation at PTC2021, we focused on the different production processes for tapes and their influences on the quality and long-term expectancy of the tape coatings.

At PTC2022, we want to analyze the different materials used for corrosion protection tapes. The structure of the tapes on the market is similar: they consist of a carrier film which is coated with a compound on one (2-ply tape) or both sides (3-ply tape). But the materials used for the carrier film and for the adhesive layer differ in their chemistry and intrinsic material properties.

The historically oldest tapes which are still available on the market, are made of a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) carrier foil covered with Bitumen. Through successful chemical materials research tapes with Polyethylene (PE) as carrier film and butyl rubber as adhesive were invented in the seventies of the 20th century and were developed further since then.

Each of these materials – PVC, PE, Bitumen and Butyl rubber – have their individual chemical structure and consequently, intrinsic material properties.

Specific characteristics like flexibility, temperature stability, impact resistance, porosity and ageing are material immanent. The different material performances in these characteristics determine the properties of the tape as a whole and its suitability for corrosion prevention.

This presentation will analyse the chemistry and the basic material properties of the materials used for corrosion prevention tapes in regards of their suitability for a good long-term performance as field coatings.