Hempel Launches New Fast-Drying CUI Coating

Hempel Launches New Fast-Drying CUI Coating Leading coating supplier Hempel has launched Hempaprime CUI 275, a new coating for combating corrosion under insulation. With extremely short overcoat intervals and broad temperature resistance, Hempaprime CUI 275 is designed to increase efficiency and improve corrosion protection in power generation and oil and gas facilities. Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a major challenge for equipment operators in process industries. In the United States alone, repairs and downtime caused by CUI are estimated to cost the sector approximately USD 300 billion annually. CUI occurs when insulated pipework and other equipment are exposed to high temperatures and temperature fluctuations. Because corrosion is hidden beneath the insulation, it is difficult to detect and can cause significant damage before discovery. Consequently, repair work can be expensive and may require extended facility shutdowns. This is a significant issue in downstream oil and gas refineries where CUI accounts for approximately 10% of maintenance budgets. For more than 50 years, Hempel has been a leading supplier to process industries, offering a wide range of proven coatings for high-temperature and insulated environments. Hempaprime CUI 275 is the latest addition to the company's portfolio and offers a range of benefits to asset owners and applicators. During testing, Hempaprime CUI 275 demonstrated significantly higher crack resistance at high temperatures compared to conventional epoxy phenolic coatings, reducing the risk of cracking and premature failure during service. It also dries extremely fast, which increases applicator efficiency. Zechariah Lim, Product Manager (CUI, High Temperature and Insulation) at Hempel, commented: "Insulated pipework and equipment can be exposed to temperature fluctuations and harsh wet/dry cycles, which makes determining CUI in-service challenging. Hempaprime CUI 275 is suitable for use across a wide temperature range from cryogenic to 275°C and has excellent crack resistance under cycling. This simplifies specification and delivers more reliable in-service performance. What is important here is that Hempaprime CUI 275 also has a very short overcoat interval – just 90 minutes at –20°C. As a result, applicators can coat more sections in a single shift, increasing efficiency in production shutdowns and reducing the time required to re-insulate equipment during maintenance work. This can result in significant cost savings for customers." Hempaprime CUI 275 meets ISO 19277: 2018 standard for CUI-1, CUI-2, CUI-3 categories and all cryogenic equivalents. Hempaprime CUI 275 was launched in June. It is available worldwide as a standard part of Hempel's coating portfolio for process industries, including oil, gas and power generation. SOURCE