The evolution of Jotun’s Thermosafe range of protective coatings is a story that spans several years of research and development and represents a perfect synergy between our clients’ requirements and our on going drive to improve the technical quality of our products.
Svein Jacob Kaspersen Ph.D., Senior Chemist, R&D
A common industry benchmark for many companies to operate their assets continuously on a day-to-day basis is around the 200ºC range, although we know from experience that there can be occasions when operational temperatures can reach 230ºC or 240ºC, such as steam outs. And while such events may occur only a few times a year, we knew that we had to create an epoxy technology that would enable our customers to successfully continue operations beyond the 200ºC parameter, without being limited by the integrity of their pipe coatings.
To get that extra increase in coating performance, companies had previously had to jump to more expensive silicones for these temperatures. But it was clear that they only needed an extra 50ºC for their operations, so why pay the extra?
We therefore decided to create an anti-corrosive protection that would operate successfully at a continuous temperature of 250ºC on carbon steel and would drastically reduce costs, compared to alternative, higher temperature resistant solutions. We were told many times that it couldn’t be done, and while we knew it was an ambitious target, our years of experience in technical innovation gave us the confidence and commitment to prove the doubters wrong.
Extensive and rigorous corrosion, curing and temperature tests were first undertaken on sample panels at our research and development facility in Norway – incorporating the largest privately owned laboratory in Northern Europe – and elsewhere in the world by third parties.
The temperature tests progressed to 230ºC, but breaking beyond that barrier proved a challenge – until we introduced additional raw materials to create a new composite which delivered additional properties and helped increase the flexibility of the coating. Tests on an aluminium recycling facility in Oman proved successful and conclusive. We had created a coating technology that could withstand a continuous temperature of 250ºC on carbon steel. And it was able to provide cost savings of more than 70 percent on existing products. Jotatemp 250 was born.
The commercial success of Jotatemp 250 led us on to an examination of the other critical challenges in enhancing operational efficiency and on-site safety in the extreme environments faced by offshore and onshore oil and gas and petrochemical facilities. The highly sophisticated testing regimes and processes established in the development of Jotatemp 250 served as a template for the creation of the other products in the Thermosafe range, while a culture of continuous improvement, aligned with a desire to produce technologies with a clear commercial benefit to the industry, provided the impetus for our research and development.
But, rather than the establishment of a range of successful industry-leading technologies being the end of the Thermosafe story, we continuously develop the range. We’re now supporting our clients through providing combinations of Thermosafe technologies to suit their specific needs, whatever they may be. We’re also exploring the science behind why combinations of materials work together and continually looking at ways to improve our products.
Some said it could not be done, but at Jotun we’ve learned that it can.
For more information, please contact our customer service specialist Kevin: kevin@jotun.com.
Designing a plant is a huge and complex task requiring a delicate balance between meeting production goals, maintaining budgets, increasing design life, and considering HSE concerns. Coatings are rarely a priority, but they should be. Here’s why.
The extreme conditions of onshore energy facilities can be very complex and protective coatings are often underestimated. There are endless misconceptions across the industry and here we discuss some of them.
Before formulating an inorganic zinc silicate (IOZ) for elevated temperature use – temperatures above 120°C – we must determine what the main challenges are for an IOZ in these conditions.
A video is being shown
An image is being displayed
A brochure is being displayed
