Thermal insulation coatings

Thermal insulation coatings with corrosion protection

Industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction have traditionally used glass wool type of insulation with metal cladding to insulate pipes, but the porosity of them creates a way for water to enter and a risk of condensation on pipe surfaces. Not only does the insulation effectiveness decrease with increased moisture content, but the risk for corrosion to occur under the insulation increases. If not detected, it can lead to costly downtime in production.

However, these industries are already benefiting from aerogel-based coatings. For example, oil pipelines coated with aerogel maintain stable temperatures, reducing the energy required for heating. Aerogels are used as fillers in these types of coating due to their:

• very low thermal conductivity
• fire resistant and
• lightweight nature,

which makes the coatings very efficient.

Easy installation

Using a coating solution enables fast and easy application, e.g. with spray-gun or roller, which also enables large and complex geometries to be covered relatively fast. Also, the complete coverage of the surface creates a barrier against moisture which minimizes the risk of corrosion. It also gives the surface a safe touch feature, meaning that despite the coating surface is hot, the heat transfer is so low it poses no risk of burning the operators, thereby increasing the safety of the plant.