Paints and coatings manufacturer PPG (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) recently announced the launch of its PITT-THERM 909 spray-on insulation (SOI) coating.
According to the company, this silicone-based coating is designed for high-heat environments in the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, and other critical infrastructure industries. In those environments, it provides improved safety, asset protection, and operational efficiency compared to traditional thermal insulative materials, the company explains.
Conventional waterborne acrylic or epoxy-based SOI coatings cannot be used on equipment operating above 350 °F (177 °C), according to PPG. To address this limitation, the silicone-based PPG Pitt-Therm 909 coating offers much greater temperature resistance. In fact, thermal testing shows that it endures continuous and cyclic temperatures as high as 500 °F.
Furthermore, by reducing heat transfer, external surfaces can remain safe to touch at up to 310 °F. This significantly reduces the risk of burns, the manufacturer explains.
Application testing of the Pitt-Therm 909 coating has shown that fewer coats are necessary compared to traditional SOI coatings, which provides operational efficiency benefits for customers. It can be applied in thicknesses of up to 250 mils (6.4 mm) per coat and, depending on the specific application requirements, only one or two coats are needed. This can significantly cut down the time and cost of the insulation process, according to the manufacturer.
Despite the reduced number of layers, PPG says the coating can achieve a higher total thickness of up to 500 mils (12.7 mm), and cure times are comparable to competing products.
Application to both hot and cold substrates is viable, thereby allowing assets to remain in service during periods of application. This offers a significant advantage over traditional methods that require operational shutdowns, according to the manufacturer.
“The PPG Pitt-Therm 909 coating represents our team’s ongoing commitment to advancing industry standards through innovation,” says Bill Pernice, global oil and gas segment director for PPG’s protective and marine coatings business. “This solution tackles the industry’s long-standing challenges by delivering high heat resistance and water-repelling properties, elevating safety and performance in demanding environments.”
The PPG Pitt-Therm 909 coating also addresses many critical challenges of traditional mechanical insulation systems, and notably their susceptibility to moisture absorption and corrosion under insulation (CUI). By contrast, the new solution has demonstrated exceptional corrosion resistance in rigorous testing, according to the manufacturer.
“Results show that it is an optimal solution for CUI prevention for reduced maintenance costs, operational shutdowns, and safety incidents,” the manufacturer states.
The PPG Pitt-Therm 909 coating, which is now available in the United States and Canada, meets all requirements for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E84 Class A fire rating.
Visit here to learn more about this new coating solution.
Source: PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, www.ppgpmc.com.