1. Surface Preparation Is the First Step
- Thoroughly clean the tank surface before any coating is applied.
- Remove old paint, rust, oil residue, sludge, and moisture.
- Use sandblasting, abrasive blasting, or high‑pressure water jetting.
- Proper preparation improves adhesion and prevents early failure, especially on recycled tanks.
2. Common External Coating Systems
- Aboveground: epoxy zinc‑rich primer + epoxy intermediate coat + polyurethane or fluorocarbon topcoat.
- Epoxy primer provides strong rust protection.
- Polyurethane or fluorocarbon topcoat improves weather resistance, UV resistance, and appearance.
- Underground/buried: epoxy coal tar, fusion‑bonded epoxy, polyurethane, or fiberglass wrapping with cathodic protection.
3. Internal Coatings Depend on Diesel Compatibility
- May be left bare if tank meets inspection requirements.
- Or lined with a fuel‑compatible epoxy or polyurethane coating.
- Internal coatings must resist diesel, water, sediment, and microbial growth.
- Must not contaminate the fuel.
- Antistatic or conductive coatings may be required to control vapor space ignition risk.
4. Inspection & Quality Control Are Essential
- Verify coating quality by dry film thickness measurement, holiday detection, adhesion testing, and visual inspection.
- For recycled tanks, pay special attention to weld seams, bottom plates, manways, nozzles, and previously repaired areas.
- Follow supplier technical data sheets for all coating materials and application methods.
- Comply with local environmental, fire, and tank inspection standards.