Method of coating metal pipe having bending capability

A method of applying a protective coating to a metal pipe which comprises

• forming an inner, water-impermeable corrosion barrier layer bonded to the surface of the pipe,
• forming a strip of impact-resistant and penetration-resistant cladding material having embedded therein a layer of mesh reinforcing material extending along a plane defining inner and outer portions of said strip,
• molding one or more longitudinally extending grooves in said outer strip portion, the grooves extending substantially to the depth of the reinforcing layer,
• molding one or more longitudinally extending grooves in said inner strip portion substantially to the depth of the reinforcing layer, said grooves being aligned with the grooves formed in said outer layer portion,
• applying a strength killing solution to the grooves formed in said inner strip portion, thereby to modify the compressive strength of the cladding material adjacent said grooves,
• supporting the strip on a carrier tape,
• feeding the carrier tape to the pipe under tension, and
• compressively wrapping the strip of cladding material onto the pipe with said inner strip portion adjacent the corrosion barrier layer, whereby the grooves formed in the inner strip portion become filled with, said cladding material of reduced compressive strength.