Evonik (evonik.com) has developed a new line of tailor-made feedstocks, TEGO® Therm, that substantially improve the performance of thermal insulation coatings (TICs). The new product range includes two microporous silica-based granules, TEGO® Therm HPG 4000 and TEGO® Therm HPG 6806, as well as a heat-resistant, silicone-based binder, TEGO® Therm L 300, notes a press release from the German company..

The three new products from Evonik’s Business Line Coating Additives are characterized by excellent insulation properties and heat resistance, even at temperatures of up to 250°C. This provides the following performance and sustainability benefits: insulation coatings based on TEGO® Therm products substantially reduce energy loss, and they also aid occupational health and safety, because they can significantly reduce the temperature of hot surfaces (safe touch). Insulation coatings also provide protection against moisture penetration and therefore corrosion under insulation (CUI). This significantly increases the service lives of coated items.

One target application for this new generation of feedstocks is the technical insulation of pipelines, tanks or various other components in industrial plants. A first product based on TEGO® Therm granules is already commercially available and can be applied for safe touch and corrosion prevention purposes. Another benefit of TEGO® Therm-based insulation coatings is that they are easy to apply. “Conventional insulation systems, such as mineral wool, are often difficult and time-consuming to apply – appliances and components with complex geometries in particular are often inadequately insulated,” says Dr Niko Haberkorn, Head of Thermal Managing Coatings at Evonik Coating Additives. As a result, non-insulated, hot surfaces increase energy loss and they also need to be protected against accidental contact. In contrast, coatings incorporating products from the TEGO® Therm line can be easily applied just by spraying. “That is even feasible to some extent during ongoing operations. This avoids equipment downtimes and saves time and money,” says Haberkorn.

The water-based binder TEGO® Therm L 300 can withstand temperatures of up to 250°C, while standard binders for TICs can only withstand temperatures no higher than 160°C. Given its excellent adhesion to various substrates, TEGO® Therm L 300 ensures particularly resilient coatings.