Waterborne Silicone Binder System for Thermal Insulation Coatings

Abstract Traditional thermal insulation solutions for industrial pipes and vessels consist of fiberglass, mineral wool, and ceramic fiber. However, these systems have drawbacks, such as installation difficulties, mechanical fragility, and water permeability. These challenges may lead to corrosion under insulation (CUI). The alternative solutions are liquid-applied thermal insulation coatings which primarily use organic binders, but are limited to maximum service operation temperatures < 200°C. Momentive(1) has developed a new waterborne silicone binder solution which may enable formulators to achieve operation temperatures up to 300°C in a liquid thermal insulation coating, while maintaining low thermal conductivity. These formulations can also improve water, chemical and UV resistance versus the typical organic-based coatings. This paper will introduce the new silicone binder system, formulation guidelines and test results using a model formulation to highlight key advantages over organic binder based thermal insulation coatings.