For all the research that has been done on corrosion under insulation (CUI), the cost of CUI damage to industries with insulated piping and equipment continues to be disproportionately high. Oil & gas, petrochemical, refining, and maritime industries are especially hard hit, yet the very nature of the problem makes it easy to miss and difficult to treat. Cortec is changing all that with its recent development of CorroLogic CUI Inhibitor Injection, a 100% Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor that can be applied to existing insulation with minimal disruption.
Here's a look at how Cortec achieved its latest discovery in the treatment of CUI.
Guiding Principles
Cortec’s quest for effective corrosion solutions was driven by the desire for a user and environmentally-friendly solution, wherever possible.
First, the inhibitor injection takes a practical approach when compared to other forms of CUI protection. Most treatments involve coatings that can only be applied when insulation is not covering the metal surface, limiting treatment to new piping and equipment unless the facility is willing to invest the time and money required to remove and reapply insulation.
Cortec had previously solved this problem with a CUI corrosion inhibitor that could be injected into the insulation on pipes and equipment that did not reach temperatures of more than 338°F (170°C). Due to its success in reducing labor and production, Cortec wanted to develop a second inhibitor that could be used at even higher temperatures.
The final product is made of high biobased content and readily biodegradable raw material (according to OECD 301), meeting the sustainability of Cortec’s R&D vision.
R&D Process
In order to develop the injection, Cortec screened many high temp Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors and studied their viability for CUI. The team settled on a chemistry that was stable up to 662°F (350°C) with a flash point of 310°F (154°C). In order to confirm that it was suitable for the target application, they set out to evaluate the following properties:
- Vapor diffusion
- Hydrophobicity
- Corrosion protection
- Application time and distance
The product showed effective vapor diffusion and corrosion protection even when placed multiple feet away from the metal test panel. Hydrophobicity was good and increased with exposure time so much so that, at one point, the chemist studying the product had to place round metal washers on the treated panel to keep saltwater droplets from rolling off.
Once basic vapor diffusion, corrosion protection, and hydrophobicity were confirmed, they tested vapor diffusion and protection at different distances and durations. Using this information, they settled on the recommended spacing of injection points at 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters). Once the product was finalized, it was sent out for third-party testing in accordance with its USDA Certified Biobased Product label application.
Results came back showing that CorroLogic CUI Inhibitor Injection contains 100% USDA-certified biobased content, and the label was awarded.
Fight CUI Without Removing Insulation
The final product, CorroLogic CUI Inhibitor Injection, is a 100% Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor that can be directly injected into insulation in order to form a protective layer on the surface of the metal piping or equipment underneath. Thanks to the R&D team, this new discovery will help facility managers fight CUI without the hassle of removing insulation and seriously interrupting normal operations.
Contact Cortec to learn more about using CorroLogic CUI Inhibitor Injection in your facility: https://corrologic.com/contact-us/
