Episodes

  • BONUS - Regulatory affairs in Europe
    Aug 17 2025

    Summary

    Nel nuovo episodio del nostro podcast, parliamo di un tema spesso percepito come tecnico e complesso, ma in realtà sempre più strategico: il mondo del Regulatory nei rivestimenti industriali. Ne discutiamo con Alice Paiotta, Regulatory & Quality Assurance Manager Europe in Carboline, che ci guida in un viaggio tra REACH, sostenibilità, rischi normativi, competitività e innovazione.

    Timestamps

    • 00:53 – Introduzione
    • 01:16 – Presentazione dell’ospite: Alice Paiotta
    • 02:03 – Che cos’è il regulatory in un’azienda che produce rivestimenti e prodotti antincendio
    • 02:40 – I principali regolamenti applicabili in Europa
    • 03:34 – Focus sul Regolamento REACH
    • 04:21 – Le autorità competenti in Europa per il settore dei rivestimenti
    • 05:44 – Come è evoluta la regolamentazione negli ultimi decenni
    • 08:22 – Codice UFI: di cosa si tratta e a cosa serve
    • 08:53 – Il futuro del regulatory secondo Alice
    • 10:46 – L’aggiornamento delle liste di sostanze: un processo continuo
    • 11:14 – Regolamenti europei e sostenibilità: sempre più interconnessi
    • 13:33 – Le conseguenze della non conformità normativa (legali, economiche, reputazionali)
    • 16:20 – Come assicurarci di non commercializzare prodotti non conformi
    • 19:25 – Regulatory come vantaggio competitivo: quando la conformità diventa strategia
    • 22:50 – Le principali sfide da affrontare per restare conformi
    • 24:48 – Il percorso di Alice: dalla chimica al regulatory
    • 28:02 – Domande extra per chiudere in leggerezza
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    30 mins
  • 25. Renovating the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Feat. Juan Pablo Ortega [again])
    Jun 25 2025

    Summary

    Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, is the iconic home of legendary soccer club Real Madrid. A recent five-year renovation has transformed the stadium into a modern engineering marvel. Fireproofing and corrosion protection coating systems each played a role in the mega project, and in this episode, Carboline’s Europe Director of Project Development, Juan Pablo Ortega, leads a tour of his favorite team’s new digs. Also, is it possible for another country to have larger portion sizes than America? Timestamps

    • 00:00 – Introduction
    • 02:32 – Summarizing the renovation of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
    • 05:10 – Differing fire ratings for different uses of a structure
    • 06:15 – Why both cementitious and intumescent fireproofing types were used
    • 08:20 – Specifying heavy-duty Pyrocrete 40
    • 10:52 – Nullifire SC 902 intumescent fireproofing was uniquely qualified for this project
    • 13:34 – Primer, fireproofing, and topcoat specification for the retractable trays
    • 16:17 – Navigating an aggressive schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • 17:20 – Juan Pablo returns to the site
    • 18:28 – The Four Questions
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    24 mins
  • 24. Fluoropolymers: The unbeatable resin technology for water tank topcoats (Feat. Jeremy Sukola and Kristen Blankenship)
    May 9 2025

    Summary Fluoropolymer-based finish coats are the premier performers for elevated water storage tanks in exterior exposures. The specialty FEVE resin on which they are based withstands intense UV radiation, high winds, and intense precipitation while holding gloss and color for decades. And while all of that comes at a cost, water industry expert Jeremy Sukola and chemistry nerd Kristen Blankenship explain how that cost represents a long-term investment that boasts a handsome return. In this episode of The Red Bucket, learn the chemistry, use cases, and regulatory considerations of fluoropolymer topcoats. Also, Kristen ponders the Atlantic Ocean from the top of a cliff, and Jeremy shares a strong opinion about spaghetti sauce. Timestamps

    • 00:00 – Introduction
    • 02:00 – A brief history of fluoropolymers
    • 04:41 – Composition and properties of fluoropolymer coatings
    • 08:51 – The role of fluoropolymer topcoats in water tank coating systems
    • 13:05 – Fluoropolymer finish coat performance vs. other common technologies
    • 15:08 – Fluoropolymer finish coats are not always the best fit
    • 17:17 – Promoting long-term visual appeal
    • 19:36 – Application properties
    • 21:04 – The cost of novel chemistry
    • 24:05 – Lifecycle cost benefits of fluoropolymer products
    • 25:52 – Human health, PFAS, and forever chemical concerns
    • 32:02 – The regulatory landscape today
    • 33:53 – Key takeaways
    • 35:14 – The Four Questions
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    40 mins
  • 23. Acrylamide leak sealing grouts (Feat. Michael Vargo)
    Apr 25 2025

    Summary

    Acrylamide grout technology dominates the underground wastewater collection leak sealing landscape. Legacy dry-granule and modern liquid variants give operators tremendous flexibility to address challenges of almost any scope or scale. But how do acrylamides work? Why do they work so well? And what do municipalities or private network owners need to know about how they fit into the broader maintenance and repair ecosystem? Michael Vargo of Prime Resins is the man with the answers.

    Also, Michael considers what it would be like to be 6’10”.

    Timestamps

    • 00:00 – Introduction
    • 02:24 – Defining acrylamide grouts
    • 04:09 – Water/wastewater use cases and how the technology works
    • 10:04 – Comparing granular vs. liquid acrylamide grouts
    • 12:57 – How weather impacts application
    • 14:30 – Acrylamides vs. alternative technologies
    • 16:44 – Use cases for acrylamide grouts outside of water/wastewater
    • 19:34 – Why Prime Resins earned NSF 61 certification for its liquid acrylamide
    • 22:12 – Ideal water sources for granule format
    • 23:03 – Necessity of training for preparation and use of acrylamide grouts
    • 25:37 – Acrylamide grouts are one piece of a bigger maintenance/repair puzzle
    • 33:00 – The four questions
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    36 mins
  • 22. Protecting molten sulfur tank cars (Feat. Lupe Pavon and Steve Liebhart)
    Mar 17 2025

    Summary

    Sulfur, an instrumental commodity to global industry, is a highly corrosive commodity typically shipped via rail in a molten state. Shippers must take care to protect their rolling stock by applying linings that resist heat, chemicals, and impacts. In this episode, rail industry expert Lupe Pavon and tank lining expert Steve Liebhart explore service environment, cleaning/surface preparation, and protective lining principles for rail cars in molten sulfur service. They also relate interesting findings from a field inspection. And, Steve considers himself a near-perfect driver in the snow, and Lupe reveals his favorite vegetable. **Timestamps **

    • 00:00 – Introduction
    • 02:11 – Corrosion mechanisms and failure modes of molten sulfur tank cars
    • 05:36 – A highly stressful service environment for a lining
    • 09:01 – Pitting corrosion and substrate blending for surface preparation
    • 14:12 – Carboline’s new Plasite XHT 400 hybrid epoxy lining
    • 18:14 – Eliminating an extra step in the surface preparation process
    • 18:38 – We inspected Plasite XHT 400 in two cars after 30+ months in service
    • 25:27 – The Four Questions
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    29 mins
  • BONUS - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (Con Juan Pablo Ortega y Emilie Musso)
    Feb 20 2025

    En el episodio inaugural en Español de The Red Bucket, nuestros compañeros de Carboline España Juan Pablo Ortega y Emilie Musso hablan sobre la reciente renovación del icónico Estadio Santiago Bernabéu en Madrid, España. El alcance del proyecto incluyó la aplicación de materiales ignífugos cementosos e intumescentes, así como recubrimientos protectores de alto rendimiento. 00:58 – Introducción: Presentación de Emilie Musso y Juan Pablo Ortega. 02:24 – Renovación del estadio: Alcance del proyecto. 04:21 – Requisitos contra incendios: Normas aplicadas en estadios. 05:47  – Césped retráctil: Impacto en los revestimientos. 07:28 –  Tipos de protección: Uso de mortero y pintura intumescente. 08:55 – Pyrocrete 40: Beneficios y aplicación. 10:20 – Nullifire SC902: Dónde y por qué se usó. 13:55 – Aplicación en una sola capa: Importancia del espesor. 15:58 – Protección anticorrosión: Recubrimientos adicionales. 17:15 – Plazos exigentes: Cómo se cumplió el tiempo. 18:51 – Cierre: Reflexión final sobre el proyecto. 20:45 – Preguntas extra: Toque personal para cerrar el episodio.

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    24 mins
  • 21. Zinc and a comparison of painting, galvanizing, and metalizing (Feat. Kristen Blankenship)
    Feb 6 2025

    It's taken for granted in the corrosion industry that zinc protects steel. But there's more than one way to put zinc on steel and more than one mechanism at work that makes it so protective. Kristen Blankenship returns to The Red Bucket to answer some big questions with even bigger implications:

    • What's zinc actually doing on painted, galvanized, and metalized surfaces?
    • How do these corrosion protection methods compare in terms of performance?
    • Does the standard "zinc-epoxy-urethane" coating system hold zinc-rich primers back from performing as well as they could on their own?
    • How many ISO 12944-9 testing cycles will it take before any corrosion appears on panels coated in a two-coat inorganic system?

    Kristen also contemplates the deathbed of a lonely scientist.

    • 00:00 – Intro
    • 02:13 – A very brief history of cathodic protection
    • 04:05 – Electron chemistry explains behavior
    • 06:15 – Summarizing galvanizing, metalizing, and painting
    • 14:15 – Silicate resin technology is understudied
    • 15:47 – Comparing adhesion of each method
    • 17:09 – Engineers understand paint differently than the other methods
    • 20:16 – Surprising results from cyclic aging testing of a two-coat inorganic system
    • 23:43 – Why is paint held to a higher standard?
    • 26:48 – Zinc loading and a sustainability comparison

    Find out more at https://carboline-tech-service-podcast.pinecast.co

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    32 mins
  • 20. No magic paint (Feat. Eric Zimmerman and Jeremy Sukola)
    Dec 18 2024

    Water/wastewater operator customers are asking some strange questions lately. To experts Jeremy Sukola and Eric Zimmerman, it’s as if they’re asking for magic paint. In this episode, we identify an emerging demographic trend and the knowledge gap it’s created. Then, Jeremy and Eric explain why the best ways to close that gap are to have hard conversations early and be involved in educating the next generation.

    Also, Eric imagines a driving range on the Mayflower and takes a bold stance against eggnog.

    • 0:00 – Introduction
    • 03:08 – Strange questions from customers
    • 05:44 – Understanding capabilities and tackling misconceptions
    • 08:00 – A generation of seasoned professionals is retiring out
    • 10:18 – Part of a familiar trend
    • 12:20 – The influence of project schedule pressure
    • 14:18 – Capabilities of coatings/linings are limited
    • 18:34 – Economic decline brings new contractors into industry
    • 20:04 – Manufacturers as problem solvers and honest brokers
    • 24:11 – Breaking barriers to knowledge sharing
    • 29:35 – Benefits of industry involvement
    • 33:12 – Gaining credibility by saying no
    • 37:57 – Avoid 99% of problems with early collaboration
    • 40:00 – Four questions
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    45 mins