Hempel’s Hempaprime CUI 275 allows to improve productivity and corrosion protection at energy generation and oil & gas facilities.
Hempel has recently launched the new fast-dry Hempaprime CUI 275, a new coating specifically designed to increase productivity and improve corrosion protection at energy generation and oil & gas facilities that meets the ISO 19277: 2018 standard for categories CUI-1, CUI-2, CUI-3 and all cryogenic equivalents.
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a major challenge for equipment operators in the process industries: it usually occurs when insulated pipework and other equipment is exposed to high temperatures or temperature fluctuations. As the corrosion is hidden beneath insulation, it is difficult to detect and can cause extensive damage before it is spotted. For example, repair and downtime caused by it in the U.S.A. alone is estimated to cost around $ 300 billion per year.
The fast-drying, alkylamine-cured epoxy coating Hempaprime CUI 275 provides long-lasting barrier protection in severe corrosive environments, high temperatures and wet conditions beneath thermal insulation. Its short overcoating interval (90 minutes at 20° C/68° F) and wide temperature resistance (from cryogenic up to 275° C/527° F) increase productivity during application and simplify specification.
In addition, the new solution developed by Hempel has shown a high crack resistance at high temperatures, reducing the risk of cracking and premature failure, and can be applied on hot surfaces up to 204° C (399° F) to minimise disruption and shutdown during maintenance. Furthermore, its wide application temperature range down to -10° C (14° F) reduces heating costs during in-shop application and extends the maintenance season in cold climates.
“Insulated pipework and equipment can be exposed to temperature fluctuations and harsh wet/dry cycling, which makes specifying for CUI service challenging. Hempaprime CUI 275 is suitable for use in a wide range of temperatures from cryogenic up to 275°C and has excellent crack resistance under cycling. This makes specification simpler and ensures a more reliable performance in service,” has declared Zechariah Lim, the CUI, high heat and insulation product manager at Hempel.
“Importantly, Hempaprime CUI 275 also has a very short overcoating interval – just 90 minutes at 20°C. As a result, applicators can coat more sections in one shift, increasing productivity in fabrication situations and reducing the time needed to re-insulate equipment during maintenance work. This can lead to significant cost savings for customers.”
Recently, Hempel launched also another solution specifically developed for the oil and gas industry, the intumescent epoxy coating Hempafire XTR 100.