Published in the June 2025 issue of Insulation Outlook, this technical article discusses a series of third-party laboratory tests commissioned to evaluate the durability of ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation’s CR-Tech™ solution in mitigating corrosion in various scenarios.  

 

Global economic growth raises an ongoing need for processing plants that produce energy, chemicals, food, and other products critical to a modern industrial society. These plants rely on networks of high-temperature piping and equipment vulnerable to an aggressive, localized corrosion phenomenon known as corrosion under insulation (CUI).   

 

ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation’s latest CUI-mitigation innovation is its CR-Tech™ corrosion inhibitor. Embedded into the inner surface of the company’s stone wool insulation, the CR-Tech inhibitor activates on contact with water, reacting with iron on the steel surface of the pipe to create a protective film. It also buffers the pH of the water, reducing its acidity and thus the potency of the corrosive attack.  

 

The CR-Tech inhibitor has proven effective in reducing CUI, but equally critical is its durability in harsh processing conditions. To evaluate this under various conditions, a series of third-party laboratory tests was commissioned: 

 

  • Modified ASTM G189 testing for water throughput of 15 times the annual rainfall of Houston, Texas. 
  • Modified ASTM C1617 testing after heat aging up to 649°C (1,200°F) for 24 hours. 

 

Authored by Technical Services Manager, Ricky Santo, this technical paper describes the experimental procedure and results of this testing. It demonstrates that the CR-Tech solution provides superior corrosion protection after exposure to an extreme rainfall event. It also shows a consistent mass load corrosion rate (MLCR) when heat aged at temperatures from 315°C to 650°C (and a lower MLCR than deionized water).  

 

“These results are promising for both existing and new process-intensive facilities that require proven, cost-effective CUI mitigation solutions to improve the safety and long-term productivity of their operations,” Ricky concluded.  

 

Read the results in full and discover how CR-Tech corrosion inhibitor could help you build and operate your process plant with confidence. 

 

 

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