Full title:SPREAD OF CORROSION ASSESSMENT ON FLEXIBLE ELASTOMERIC INSULATION SYSTEMS IN A CONTINUOUS SALT-WATER SPRAY ENVIRONMENT
Closed cell, flexible elastomeric foam (FEF) insulation materials have long been known to offer benefits with regards to mitigating corrosion under insulation (CUI). Despite a number of real-life case studies stretching back more than 30 years, it was not until very recently that the performance of FEF insulation materials with respect to CUI in offshore environments were properly assessed.
This presentation sets out the details of a test procedure jointly developed by TNO/Endures, Netherlands to assess the long term performance of insulation systems when a damaged section of the system is subject to a continuous salt-water spray environment.
While the onset of corrosion cannot be prevented, the tests demonstrate that closed cell, FEF materials do inhibit the spread of CUI. It is noted by TNO/Endures that the mitigated spread of corrosion is due to the closed cell structure of the insulation material and to the method of its application.
Key words:
Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) , Flexible Elastomeric Foam (FEF)