Abstract
Protective coating systems were investigated in the laboratory at temperatures down to -60˚C to simulate arctic conditions. Ageing resistance testing according to ISO 20340 showed generally acceptable rust creep. Polysiloxane topcoats, however, showed cracking after testing. Investigation of internal stress of topcoats showed an increased stress level with decreasing temperatures. The highest internal stress was found for one of the polysiloxane topcoats that cracked in the corrosion test. The calculated stress level was in the order of 40 MPa, which is significantly higher than the tensile strength of the coating. Hence, internal stress at low temperature is an important parameter to consider when selecting coatings for arctic environments.