SUMMARY
This paper refers to investigations of ageing of epoxy coatings and how it effects on changes of coatings structure. Investigations of the development of pores in epoxy coatings aged with ultraviolet radiation or with 20% solutions of sodium chloride, potassium hydroxide or sulphuric acid were made for this purpose. The porosimetric investigations carried out on epoxy coatings allowed accelerated verification of coatings resistance to the action of aggressive media as well as ultraviolet radiation. It was stated that both the way and the duration of ageing influenced on coating porosity changes. The greatest increase of the pore specific surface was stated for 1320 hours ageing with water solutions of sodium chloride or sulphuric acid whereas for ageing with water solution of potassium hydroxide or ultraviolet radiation the average pore specific surface increase was 20%. The ageing process influenced the apparent and theoretical (skeletal) densities of epoxy coatings.

Keywords
Epoxy coating, ageing, aggressive media, coating porosity.

¹ Politechnika Radomska