a protective curable coating containing a polymerization inhibitor , extractable from the cured coating , which is applied to surfaces located above the liquid level of a storage tank containing a polymerizable alkenyl aromatic monomer , e . g ., styrene , vinyl toluene , divinyl benzene on which surfaces said monomer tends to condense . the monomer condensing on the surfaces which have been coated extracts some of the inhibitor from the coating and thus polymerization on these surfaces is prevented or substantially restricted .