TSA Insight Magazine Issue 26 - Magazine - Page 27
expensive methods using radiography
and ultrasound equipment. All too
often CUI is identified too late, by
which point it has caused major asset
damage that requires extensive repair.
During a Sherwin-Williams field
evaluation, sections of in-service
mineral-based
insulation
were
removed from a storage tank roof and
found to contain between 17% and
70% water by volume. Such moisture
levels can significantly increase the
likelihood of CUI developing beneath
the insulation system and negatively
impact the thermal efficiency of the
insulation.
CUI Coatings – The Story So Far
To mitigate the impact of CUI,
Sherwin-Williams
has
already
developed an award-winning range
of Heat-Flex CUI mitigation primers,
designed to form a protective layer
underneath traditional mineral-based
insulation that protects against CUI.
However, the issue of diminished
thermal performance due to moisture
ingress has remained, until now.
Less Moisture Retention – Superior
Thermal Management
Replacing traditional insulation with a
Thermal Insulative Coating (TIC) offers
significant benefits for operators and
applicators alike. The latest generation
TICs can offer consistent and
predictable temperature control with
long-term performance that rivals the
effectiveness of traditional mineralbased insulation. These coatings
help operators take back control
of their energy consumption and
maintenance costs. While mineralbased materials with moisture
content experience a permanent,
significant decrease in thermal
insulative performance, TICs offer
significantly less variation in thermal
performance during wetter and colder
months. Data from trials in the United
States has shown a 20% reduction
in a vessel’s gas usage during the
winter months. Additionally, with
TICs, thermal performance remains
steady for the life of the coating,
meaning thermal management is
more predictable and heat top-ups
are required less frequently. Because
TICs remove the moisture-retaining
insulation layer where CUI typically
develops, the conditions required
for corrosion under insulation are
effectively eliminated.
TICs are also low maintenance and
easy to inspect, in line with other
industrial coatings. Labour savings
compound across the installation,
inspection and maintenance stages
of the TIC’s lifecycle, offering a cost
competitive solution compared to
traditional insulation methods.
TIC Application – Now Easier Than
Ever
TICs are also considerably faster,
easier and safer to install than
traditional insulation systems. TICs
can typically be spray-applied from
a safe working distance, and in many
cases, assets can remain operational
during application. Once installed,
TICs also provide an effective safety
barrier for employees working in close
proximity to hot assets, significantly
reducing the risk of contact burns.
Historically, many TIC technologies
have required two- or threecomponent formulations that must be
mixed on site, increasing application
complexity and material waste, while
increasing the risk of formulation
errors. Sherwin-Williams Heat-Flex®
AEB addresses this challenge through
a single-component formulation
that is ready to use after mixing,
helping simplify application and
material management. This offers the
additional benefit that unused material
does not need to be discarded and
can be resealed for later use. As
operators continue to seek ways to
improve energy efficiency, reduce
maintenance costs and extend asset
life, thermal insulative coatings are
emerging as a compelling alternative
to conventional insulation systems. By
addressing both thermal performance
and the risks associated with moisture
ingress, modern TIC technologies
offer a practical route to improved
operational reliability and reduced
lifecycle costs. Products such as
Heat-Flex® AEB demonstrate how the
latest generation of TIC technology
can help operators improve thermal
efficiency, simplify maintenance and
address long-standing challenges
associated with moisture ingress and
CUI.
Author
Matthew Berry
Marketing Communication Manager –
Energy, Sherwin-Williams
I s su e
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