Our suggestion is 1 coat of Chemical Mastic High Build Epoxy as a primer / intermediate and finish coat of ARM517 (contact per requests and pricing) as the topcoat. If you have pitting from corrosion, we recommend a 3 coat system (Chemical Mastic High Build Epoxy, Chemical Mastic High Build Epoxy, ARM517). If the steel is in good condition, it can be a two coat system (Chemical Mastic High Build Epoxy, ARM517).
We’ve used a bunch of applications with ARM 517 in diesel fuel and it works well as a tank linking for it.
For the prep side, we want to make sure you have fully removed the rust by either abrasive blasting , angle grinder, needle gun, etc. If the rust isn’t removed to bare steel, it’s common to see rust come back through quickly in the tank lining industry. Tank linings require a higher level of surface prep then standard steel coating jobs. We reference a standard called “SSPC-SP-11”. Below is summary of it.
SSPC-SP 11 is the Surface Preparation Specification for Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal. It’s commonly used when abrasive blasting isn’t practical but a near-white or commercial blast-cleaned surface is still desired. Here’s a breakdown:
Definition
- SP-11 requires the use of power tools (like needle guns, grinders, sanders, or rotary tools) to remove rust, coatings, mill scale, and contaminants down to bare metal.
- The goal is to achieve a minimum 1 mil (25 μm) surface profile, unless otherwise specified.
Key Requirements
- All visible rust, paint, and mill scale must be removed so only shiny bare metal remains.
- The surface must have a roughened profile for coating adhesion.
- No polish or burnishing is allowed—the finish must be suitable for coating.
- Crevices, pits, and corners must be addressed, although tightly adherent material in pits may remain if it cannot be removed without excessive metal los