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New High-Temp Coating Tackles CUI

Thursday, November 1, 2012

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Sherwin-Williams has introduced an immersion-grade, single-component coating for protection against corrosion under insulation in the oil and gas industry.

Heat-Flex Hi-Temp 1200 has undergone rigorous protocols based on ASTM standards that "documented better corrosion and abrasion resistance, and increased flexibility and harder film," says the company, which says it tested the coating "at the Sherwin-Wiliams labs where the first CUI coating was pioneered in 1999."

'Accelerated, Real-World' Testing

“Our testing was based on accelerated and real-world scenarios involving typical CUI mechanisms,” said Bruce Toews, Global Market Director for Oil & Gas, Sherwin-Williams Protective and Marine Coatings.

Sherwin-Williams says the product was tested extensively in "real-world scenarios" recognized by NACE SP0198-2010, which addresses CUI.

In the testing, coated panels showed no adhesion loss or blistering after 80 cycles of the boiling water test when applied at ambient temperatures, said Toews. This test measures a coating’s performance on a steel panel subjected to thermal shock in a simulated immersion scenario.

Sherwin-Williams said it also put the coating through an internally developed testing protocol to gauge its performance "in real-world scenarios involving typical CUI mechanisms as recognized in NACE SP0198-2010."

“In addition to improved corrosion resistance, Heat-Flex Hi-Temp 1200 delivered enhanced durability in transit from shop to job site, and faster shop throughput," said Toews. "Those attributes translate into reduced total cost of ownership and extended service life for high heat applications and equipment under insulation.”

Features and Application

Heat-Flex Hi-Temp 1200 is recommended for use in wet/dry cyclic service at operating surface temperatures of cryogenic to 1200°F, with application temperatures from ambient to 500°F.

The product is designed to combine ease of application, ambient cure, surface tolerance and UV resistance in one formulation for application under calcium silicate and mineral wool insulation systems.

Tackling CUI

Sherwin-Williams calls CUI "one of the costliest problems facing the hydrocarbon processing environment today" and the leading cause of operational disruptions due to major equipment outages.

"Industry standards governing the current technology and best industry practices for mitigating CUI were revised and became effective in 2011," the manufacturer notes.

NACE Standard SP0198-2010, “The Control of Corrosion Under Thermal Insulation and Fireproofing Materials – A Systems Approach,” holds that immersion-grade systems are a suitable defense against infiltration by outside moisture or from the process environment itself through seams, gaps or other discontinuities in steel under insulation. Insulated steel capable of trapping water is considered to be under immersion at 210°F or higher.

More information: http://www.sherwin-williams.com/again. 

Comment from Art MacKinnon, (11/1/2012, 9:18 AM)

Sherwin Williams only starting working with CUI in 2006, I know of know other CUI coatings 1999? Someone should do their research.

Comment from Mary Chollet, (11/1/2012, 9:29 AM)

Art, we should have attributed that claim to Sherwin-Williams. The story has been adjusted to reflect that. Thanks.

Comment from Michael Silverman, (11/1/2012, 2:29 PM)

This coating seems very similar to Hi-Temps Coatings Inc. 1027 another, another polymeric matrix type formulation which has been around for a while.

Comment from Thomas Sharp, (11/1/2012, 3:26 PM)

In the field, the product known as ThermaCote, and other products produced by ThermaCote, Inc. have been used for CUI applications since 1987. The first CUI coatings were created by ThermaCote, inc.

Comment from Arun Gopinathan, (11/6/2012, 6:58 AM)

I agree with Michael Silverman.