Fusion-bonded epoxy: a thermoset epoxy powder sprayed electrostatically onto blasted pipe heated to roughly 230 to 245 C, where it melts, flows and cures within seconds to a tough film, typically 12 to 16 mils (300 to 400 microns). FBE bonds strongly, resists cathodic disbondment and does not shield CP current if it fails. It is also the first layer of three-layer polyethylene and polypropylene systems, and dual-layer versions add an abrasion-resistant overcoat for boring.
Line pipe comes FBE from the mill, the field joints get two-part epoxy and the bores get dual-layer.
Also heard as
- fusion-bonded epoxy
- fusion bond
Related terms
Field joint coating
Coating applied on site over the bare girth weld zone left between factory-coated pipe joints.
Holiday detector
Instrument that finds coating holidays by detecting current flow or sparks through flaws to the metal.
Cathodic disbondment
Loss of coating adhesion around a holiday caused by the alkali and hydrogen that cathodic protection generates.
Jeep
Pipeline slang for the high-voltage holiday detector, and also for the coating flaws it finds.