Independent test data informs smarter insulation choices against CUI
Choosing the right insulation can significantly reduce the risk of corrosion under insulation (CUI). But how do you compare materials with confidence? This white paper presents independent laboratory test results of mineral wool insulation with a corrosion inhibitor to help engineers and asset owners make more informed insulation decisions.
CUI is among the costliest threats to industrial facilities. Silently progressing beneath insulation systems, it is responsible for a significant proportion of piping and equipment failures — and by some estimates accounts for up to 60% of pipeline maintenance costs across the oil and gas, petrochemical, and other heavy industrial sectors.
Mineral wool insulation has long been valued for its thermal efficiency, fire resistance, and ease of installation — but its susceptibility to moisture ingress has made it a focus in the fight against CUI. However, recent advances in integrating corrosion inhibitors directly into mineral wool insulation offer a promising approach to addressing this challenge. Evaluating these solutions requires rigorous, standardized testing. This white paper compares ROCKWOOL mineral wool insulation with integrated CR-Tech™ corrosion inhibitor to alternative insulation types under two recognized CUI test standards: ASTM G189 and AMPP TM 21549.
Download the paper to:
- Understand the ASTM G189 and AMPP TM21549 test methodologies and how they can support your insulation choices.
- Compare independent corrosion rate and pitting data for mineral wool (with and without an inhibitor), aerogel, and perlite insulation.
- Discover why insulation structure plays a critical role in localized corrosion outcomes.
The results reveal clear, consistent performance differences across insulation types across both test methods, with significant implications for a facility’s CUI mitigation strategy. The paper presents full corrosion rate data, pitting analysis, and post-test specimen images so you can evaluate the evidence for yourself.
Authored by ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation’s Farhan Qadir, Technical Sales Manager, and Ricky Seto, Technical Services Manager, the paper draws on the team’s extensive experience in CUI research and industrial insulation testing to provide a rigorous analysis of insulation performance in mitigating the risk of CUI in process industries.
Get the full test results and see how the right insulation choice could strengthen your CUI mitigation strategy.
