Low water absorption
One of the biggest challenges in insulating industrial applications is the prevention of corrosion under insulation (CUI). The consequences of CUI can be costly as they can lead to additional inspections and higher operating and maintenance costs1. CUI can cause longer downtimes, a shorter service life for pipes, risk of leakages and systems and – in the worst case – even result in personal injury.
Insulation performs best when it remains dry
Corrosion under insulation can cause steel piping and process industry equipment to deteriorate under externally clad or jacketed insulation. It may be caused by the penetration of water or moisture due to condensation when the wrong insulation system has been chosen, or the installation has not been prepared, fitted and finished properly.
As industrial insulation solutions frequently risk exposure to water, high humidity, or other liquids, low water absorption is a vital product property.
Your solution to reduce the risk of corrosion
When austenitic stainless-steel surfaces are exposed to a corrosive environment and tensile stresses, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) can occur. To minimize stress corrosion cracking under the insulation, the insulating materials must meet high acceptance criteria: Chloride ion content should fit into a specific diagram (ASTM C795).
Choosing a highly water-repellent, non-hygroscopic, chemically robust and durable insulation solution is key to protecting the insulated surfaces from moisture and other harmful substances.
Remarkable low water absorption properties for stone wool insulation
PAROC’s water-repellent (WR) stone wool products are an excellent choice for meeting all these technical requirements. They have outstanding hydrophobic properties, reducing the risk of water getting trapped within the insulation material. The open-pore structure ensures a faster dry-out time, allowing bulk water to drain away and vapor to dry naturally. This provides effective protection and reduced moisture absorption over the entire thickness of the insulation.
Independent test laboratories2 have confirmed that PAROC WR products have significantly lower water absorption properties, offering an average water absorption that is more than 10 x better than the requirements when tested in compliance with EN1609 and EN13472/24h)2. In fact, it absorbs on average less than 0.1 kg/m² water after being heated to 300°C for 24h.
Broad product portfolio with water-repellent (WR) properties
We prioritize the safety of industrial operations, the productivity of your processes, and the preservation of our environment. Therefore, PAROC offers a product range of fast, and easy- to-install WR solutions for all types of applications – including a full product range of pipe sections and elbow solutions, wired mats, mats and slabs. In addition, our WR products are safe for painting applications and certified to the requirements of the VDMA 24364 coating standard.
Why PAROC WR products are excellent to minimize the risk of CUI
PAROC Pro WR products have outstanding water absorption properties; third-party tests prove that they are more than 10 x better on average than the toughest requirements when tested in compliance with EN1609 and EN134722.
A shorter drying time can reduce the critical period when damp insulation can create a corrosive environment between the pipe and the insulation. This is possible due to the excellent water repellency and the fibrous, open-pored structure of stone wool, which enables water to drain away and vapor to dry out.
The PAROC WR products contain very low levels of water-leachable chlorides and are non-acidic. This can effectively help to avoid different kinds of corrosion, including stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel.
Our products are designed to endure harsh environments, maintaining their water repellent capabilities at temperatures up to 300°C2. This ensures smooth operations, CUI protection and maximum efficiency in high-temperature industrial applications.
The extensive range of PAROC PRO products cover most required insulation solutions: pipe sections and elbows, slabs, mats, and wired mats for most industrial installations - a non-contact solution is also available. Our exact product dimensioning reduces installation time and increases efficiency.
Non-contact insulation with PAROC CUI Spacers
A non-contact insulation is considered one of the best solutions for reducing the risk of CUI. PAROC CUI Spacers are silicone spacer blocks suitable for high-temperature environments and can be attached to a PTFE belt (PAROC CUI Belt). The PAROC spacer system offers a number of advantages: The solution can be easily modified to fit most pipe diameters and can be used on equipment and irregular shapes as well (one size fits all). The solution is non-metallic with no risk of damaging the surface protection. The spacers can be installed with a minimum of tools. A pair of scissors or a knife is all that's needed. No waste. All excess material can be fitted to the next application.
1A 2003 ExxonMobil study found that 40–60% of maintenance costs on industrial pipes is caused by CUI.
2The data is based on an independent third-party comparison of products from the most important mineral wool manufacturers, which was carried out by Eurofins Lab 19036 on 16 August 2019.
