Sherwin-Williams FIRETEX C69 is a two pack epoxy, fast-track blast primer for intumescent coatings. FIRETEX C69 is a fast-track temporary protective coating for surfaces prepared by abrasive blast cleaning, designed for use under FIRETEX intumescent coatings. FIRETEX C69 can be overcoated after 30mins with FIRETEX intumescent coatings offering a fast-track solution to off-site intumescent application.

Recommended Topcoats

• FIRETEX range of intumescent coatings

Preparation and Build-Up:

Sherwin-Williams FIRETEX C69 is not intended to replace a coat of primer in the main paint specification, it is designed to provide temporary protection until the specified paint scheme can be applied. However, in practice the use of this material does make a substantial contribution to the performance of the complete paint specification in terms of ultimate durability and resistance to corrosion.

Where this material has been subject to exposure prior to overcoating, thorough cleaning down will be required to ensure that all traces of contamination (eg dust, oil, grease, salts etc.) are removed before application of the full paint system. The applied dry film thickness of prefabrication primers is normally below 30 microns. At this level of dry film thickness, factors such as blast profile, uneveness of application and severity of exposure conditions may significantly affect the performance, especially immersion or water pooling.

Sherwin-Williams FIRETEX C69 should be overcoated before any breakdown, such as peak rusting, occurs, If such breakdown occurs as a result of extended exposure, re-preparation of the substrate by flash blasting or mechanical methods will be necessary.

Surface Preparation

For optimum performance use round steel shot and blast clean to Sa21⁄2 BS EN ISO 8501-1:2007. Average surface profile in the range of 30-50 microns.
Welds and repairs to previously blast cleaned substrate may be manually prepared to St3 (BS EN ISO 8501-1:2007).
Ensure surfaces to be coated are clean, dry and free from all surface contamination.

Application Equipment

Airless Spray

Nozzle Size: 0.28-0.38mm (11-15 thou)
Fan Angle: 40-60°
Operating Pressure: 140-154kg/cm² (2000-2200 psi)

The airless spray details given above are intended as a guide only. Details such as fluid hose length and diameter, paint temperature and job shape and size all have an effect on the spray tip and operating pressure chosen. However, the operating pressure should be the lowest possible consistent with satisfactory atomisation. As conditions will vary from job to job, it is the applicators’ responsibility to ensure that the equipment in use has been set up to give the best results. If in doubt Sherwin-Williams should be consulted.

Conventional Spray

Nozzle Size: 1.27mm (50 thou)
Atomising Pressure: 3.5kg/cm² (50 psi)
Fluid Pressure: 0.35-0.7kg/cm² (5-10 psi)

The details of atomising pressure, fluid pressure and nozzle size are given as a guide. It may be found that slight variations of pressure will provide optimum atomisation in some circumstances according to the set up in use. Atomising air pressure depends on the air cap in use and the fluid pressure depends on the length of line and direction of feed i.e. horizontal or vertical. 

Application Conditions & Overcoating

This material should preferably be applied at temperatures in excess of 10°C. In conditions of high relative humidity, ie 80-85% good ventilation conditions are essential. Substrate temperature shall be at least 3°C above the dew point and always above 0°C.

At application temperatures below 10°C, drying and curing times will be significantly extended, and spraying characteristics may be impaired.
Application at ambient air temperatures below 5°C is not recommended.

In order to achieve optimum water and chemical resistance, temperature needs to be maintained above 10°C during curing.

This material should be overcoated before any breakdown, such as peak rusting, occurs, If such breakdown occurs as a result of extended exposure, re-preparation of the substrate by flash blasting or mechanical methods will be necessary. 

Additional Notes

Drying times, curing times and pot life should be considered as a guide only.

The curing reaction of epoxies commences immediately the two components are mixed, and since the reaction is dependent on temperature, the curing time and pot life will be approximately halved by a 10°C increase in temperature and doubled by a 10°C decrease in temperature.

Preparation and Build-Up:

This material is not intended to replace a coat of primer in the main paint specification, it is designed to provide temporary protection until the specified paint scheme can be applied. However, in practice the use of this material does make a substantial contribution to the performance of the complete paint specification in terms of ultimate durability and resistance to corrosion.

Where this material has been subject to exposure prior to overcoating, thorough cleaning down will be required to ensure that all traces of contamination ( eg dust, oil, grease, salts etc ) are removed before application of the full paint system.
The applied dry film thickness of prefabrication primers is normally below 30 microns. At this level of dry film thickness, factors such as blast profile, uneveness of application and severity of exposure conditions may significantly affect the performance, especially immersion or water pooling.

Fabrication:

While this material is classed and approved as a welding primer, under certain types of welding conditions eg high speed twin-fillet welding, fabricators are advised to satisfy themselves that the product is suitable for their particular welding process.

Stability:

Highly pigmented, low solids materials are prone to settling in the can. This will in no way affect the produce performance provided the material is thoroughly stirred prior to use.

Numerical values quoted for physical data may vary slightly from batch to batch.