Sherwin-Williams launches Heat-Flex® ACE - next generation CUI protection for the oil and gas industry

BOLTON, UK - Sherwin-Williams has announced the launch of Heat-Flex® ACE, an advanced technology engineered to help mitigate one of the oil and gas industry’s most costly and persistent threats: corrosion under insulation (CUI).

For decades, operators have relied on traditional insulation materials to manage extreme process temperatures. But this approach carries inherent risks. CUI, a hidden form of corrosion that forms when moisture penetrates insulation and reacts with steel surfaces, has cost the global oil and gas industry billions annually in repairs, downtime, and safety incidents.

Traditional epoxy coatings, used as a primer underneath traditional insulation systems, acts as a barrier between the steel and the moisture. To date, however, they have performed poorly, been difficult to apply, and unsuitable for some temperature ranges.

But Heat-Flex ACE is rewriting the rules. Used as a primer underneath traditional insulation systems, it acts as a barrier between the steel and the moisture. It delivers best-in-class CUI temperature resistance and excellent corrosion creep resistance, is easy to apply, and is resistant to cracking. It is fully tested and prequalified to ISO 19277:2018 CUI2 & CUI3 and conforms to NORSOK M501 system 1D and 6C

Heat-Flex ACE provides external protection of process pipes, valves, and vessels, operating between temperatures from -196°C (-321°F) to 232°C (450°F). It is suitable for use in new construction and maintenance projects of both carbon and stainless steel substrates, in insulated and uninsulated service.

Neil Wilds, Global Product Director – CUI/Testing said:

“The battle against CUI is never-ending, as coated steel encapsulated in insulation will inevitably corrode over time. Our goal is to mitigate that corrosion process for as long as possible.

Developed with a functional chemical enhancement, Heat-Flex ACE surpasses the performance capabilities of traditional solvent-based epoxy phenolic and novolac coatings.

CUI has long been considered an unavoidable cost of doing business. With Heat-Flex ACE, that is no longer the case.”

Heat-Flex ACE delivers a more dependable, longer lasting organic coating solution to mitigate the risk of CUI with:

• Unparalleled, long-lasting CUI protection: Best-in-class temperature, chemical, and pH resistance.
• Cracking resistance: High build capacity of one or two coats without cracking.
• Highly versatile: Multiple application methods and a wide dry film thickness (DFT) range.
• Highly durable: Protects steel from corrosion in highly corrosive environments during transport to site.
• Solvent-free, low-VOC (<100 g/L) formulation.

Heat-Flex ACE is part of Sherwin-Williams’ commitment to using science-driven innovation to solve some of today’s toughest infrastructure challenges.