AMPP Pipeline Coatings study guide
AMPP Pipeline Coatings · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The AMPP Pipeline Coatings Inspector (PCI) credential sits inside AMPP's education and certification portfolio. AMPP describes itself as the largest global community for corrosion and coatings expertise, and its catalog of courses and certifications explicitly covers coating inspection, protective coatings, cathodic protection, and corrosion prevention. The AMPP Pipeline Coatings study guide has 6 sections and about 1,627 words.
01Corrosion Fundamentals and Protective Coating Theory
Buried and submerged pipeline steel corrodes through an electrochemical cell with four elements: an anodic reaction (iron dissolution), a cathodic reaction (usually oxygen reduction or hydrogen evolution), an electrolyte (soil moisture or water), and a metallic return path. Remove any element and corrosion stops.
317 words, about 2 min02Pipeline Coating Types, Materials, and Selection
Plant-applied pipeline coatings include fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE), three-layer polyethylene (3LPE) and polypropylene (3LPP), dual-layer FBE, and legacy systems such as coal tar enamel, asphalt, and tape wraps. Field-applied coatings include liquid epoxies, polyurethanes, and heat-shrink sleeves for girth welds and repairs.
274 words, about 1 min03Surface Preparation for Pipeline Coatings
Surface preparation is the largest single influence on coating performance. Abrasive blasting removes mill scale, rust, and old coating and creates an anchor profile.
266 words, about 1 min04Coating Application and Application Equipment
FBE is applied by electrostatic spray or fluidized bed to a heated, blasted pipe, then cured and usually water-quenched. Three-layer systems apply an FBE primer, a copolymer adhesive, and an extruded PE or PP topcoat.
255 words, about 1 min05Inspection, Testing, and Defect Assessment
Inspection covers surface preparation, application conditions, dry film thickness (DFT), continuity (holiday testing), adhesion, cure, and appearance. Destructive or semi-destructive tests include pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541), cathodic disbondment (ASTM G8/G95, CSA Z245.20), impact, flexibility, and indentation.
258 words, about 1 min06Standards, Specifications, and Safety/Environmental Requirements
Pipeline coating work is governed by project specifications referencing standards such as ISO 21809 (external coatings), the CSA Z245.20 series (plant-applied external coatings), API RP 5L7 (internal FBE), NACE/AMPP and SSPC surface-preparation and inspection standards, and ASTM test methods. API 5L is a pipe product specification, not a coating specification - a common exam trap.
257 words, about 1 min