TM 43-0139
CHAPTER 3
FINISH SYSTEMS
Section I. CLEANING AND TREATMENT OF SURFACES
WARNING
Before beginning any painting-related activity, read Section II, Safety Summary.
3-1. GENERAL.
This chapter describes finish systems. It covers the material to be used and procedures to be followed in the cleaning,
treatment, and painting of equipment to provide protection against rust, corrosion, detection, and/or deterioration. For
more information on specific systems not addressed in this chapter, refer to applicable finishing documents such as
MILSTD-171, Finishing of Metal and Wood Surfaces; MIL-T-704, Treatment and Painting of Materiel; MIL-STD-186,
Protective Finishing Systems for Rockets, Guided Missiles, Support Equipment, and Related Materials; MIL-STD-193,
Painting Procedures and Marking for Vehicles, Construction Equipment, and Material Handling Equipment; M IL-STD-194,
System for Painting and Finishing Fire-Control Material; MIL-STD-709, Ammunition Color Coding; MIL-F-14072, Finishes
for Ground Electronic Equipment; and TT-C-490, Cleaning Methods and Pretreatments of Ferrous Surfaces for Organic
Coatings.
3-2. SURFACE PREPARATION
a.
General. Surfaces to be painted must be thoroughly cleaned. All rust, corrosion products, oil, grease, moisture,
dirt, fouling organisms, loose and blistered paint, deteriorated areas of old paint, and other surface contaminants will be '
removed prior to painting in accordance with MIL-T-704. Surfaces that require removal of loose paint shall be prepared in
the following manner:
(1)
The initial step shall be to remove all loose paint by light sand blasting or orbital sanding.
(2)
The edges of good paint surrounding the prepared areas shall be feathered using abrasive sanding disks or
stainless steel scouring pads.
(3)
The newly cleaned areas shall be washed with liquid detergent cleaner (e.g. MIL-D-16791, Type 1) and
thoroughly rinsed with fresh water until the surface can pass a water break test. The surface shall be allowed to dry
completely; pretreatment should begin within four hours after cleaning.
b.
Paint Remover. Paint and varnish remover will conform to TT-R-251, Type IV, Class A, low viscosity, for
horizontal surfaces, and Class B, high viscosity, to be used for vertical and near vertical surfaces. These paint removers
will have minimal effect on CARC coated surfaces, however. For CARC-coated surfaces, use paint remover, epoxy,
polysulfide, and polyurethane systems, MIL-R-81294, Type I, according to manufacturer's instructions.
c.
Solvent Cleaning. Surfaces intended for conventional paint will be cleaned with the currently approved cleaning
agent. Surfaces intended for CARC coatings will be cleaned with a solvent conforming to MIL-T-81772 or TT-T-266.
Metal surfaces intended for vinyl paints will be cleaned with naptha solvent, Type A, of MIL1-N-15178. Surfaces already
painted with vinyl, acrylic, or acrylic nitrocellulose paint will be cleaned with either Toluene, TT-T-548, or Xylene, TT-X-
916, Grade A, prior to over-painting. Mineral-spirit type solvents will not be used on surfaces to be coated with paint
because these solvents leave an oily film which interferes with proper adhesion.
WARNING
Toluene, xylene, and naphtha are highly flammable. Exercise extreme care when
using these solvents. Do not expose to heat or open flames.
Change 3 3-1
