The Red Bucket

Latest Episodes:

28. Is it time to replace traditional tank and pipe insulation? (feat. Michael Stelmach) May 26, 2026

Show notes

Summary

For decades, standard practice for insulating storage tanks and piping has been to wrap them in mineral wool, foam, or other low-conductivity materials before sealing them in cladding. This method works well—for a few years, anyway. But guest Michael Stelmach explains how liquid-applied insulative coatings are a longer-lived solution that achieves similar thermal efficiency, personnel protection, energy savings, and process stability while eliminating CUI and other risk factors.

Also, Michael pulls his hamstring and admits it is possible to have good barbecue outside of Texas.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction
00:43 – The evolution of insulative coatings
02:58 – Understanding traditional insulation methods
05:32 – The mechanics of insulation and moisture ingress
08:49 – Challenges with traditional insulation materials
11:20 – Weather damage and safety concerns
13:39 – Construction challenges with traditional insulation
16:41 – Performance analysis and thermal conductivity
22:36 – Corrosion under insulation: challenges and solutions
26:17 – The role of topcoating
29:06 – Liquid-applied vs. traditional insulation costs
31:58 – Limitations of liquid applied insulation
34:07 – The four questions

27. Landmark projects in Canada (Feat. Pedro Escudero) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Summary

Three mysterious binders once forgotten in a Carboline headquarters closet are opened for the first time in decades. In this episode of The Red Bucket, Toby and guest Pedro Escudero explore a small sample of their contents: four past projects involving high-profile locations across Canada.

And, Pedro reveals where tourists can get the best fish dinner in the country.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction
01:40 – CN Tower staircase
05:52 – Point Tupper supertanker terminal
13:02 – SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) retractable roof structural steel
18:35 – Peterborough Lift Lock
33:10 – The Four Questions

26. The problem with using Shore D hardness for intumescent coatings (Feat. Michael Hollman) Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

Summary

An intumescent coating can be qualified or disqualified for use simply because it falls above or below a certain magical hardness level, usually as measured on the Shore D scale. But hardness has no influence on performance, and the Shore D scale just doesn’t make sense when assessing softer intumescent technology types. Fireproofing industry veteran Michael Hollman explains the consequences of misusing Shore D hardness in intumescent coating specifications.

Also, Michael worries that his brother-in-law might soon beat him at snooker.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
03:01 - How the industry's understanding of hardness has evolved
05:55 - Durometers' importance in measuring coating hardness
07:31 - Matching different Shore scales to different coating technologies
09:39 - When standards are "cut-and-pasted" without context
13:34 - Harder is not universally better
18:15 - Elasticity, damage resistance, and impact recovery
21:12 - Viewing Shore values as a reference point, not a product differentiator
22:40 - The four questions

BONUS - Regulatory affairs in Europe Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

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

25. Renovating the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Feat. Juan Pablo Ortega [again]) Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

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

24. Fluoropolymers: The unbeatable resin technology for water tank topcoats (Feat. Jeremy Sukola and Kristen Blankenship) May 09, 2025

Show notes

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

23. Acrylamide leak sealing grouts (Feat. Michael Vargo) Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

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

22. Protecting molten sulfur tank cars (Feat. Lupe Pavon and Steve Liebhart) Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

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

BONUS - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (Con Juan Pablo Ortega y Emilie Musso) Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

21. Zinc and a comparison of painting, galvanizing, and metalizing (Feat. Kristen Blankenship) Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

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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