Preventing CUI

Preventing CUI

Industry News

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a long-time problem in petrochemical, refinery, and marine environments, and is estimated to be 40-60% of piping maintenance costs in the oil and gas industry, in addition undetected CUI on pipes carrying hazardous liquids may lead to leaks and potential explosions. To tackle this dangerous and costly problem, Cortec® Corporation has developed CorroLogic® CUI Inhibitor Injection, a new vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor technology that simplifies protection for insulated pipes covering a high range of temperatures.

CUI happens when moisture and other corrosive media enter insulation after wraps or jackets are compromised, or when condensation builds up, often unnoticed, beneath the insulation. This is especially a problem for piping that undergoes wet-dry, or high-low temperature, cycling. The threat of CUI is potentially even greater on offshore platforms, or in other marine environments where chloride-rich sea spray can infiltrate the insulation. According to the company, CorroLogic® CUI Inhibitor Injection, a new high-temperature 100% Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI/VpCI®) is available to protect against corrosion under insulation (CUI). As its name implies, CorroLogic® CUI Inhibitor can be injected directly into insulating material.

The corrosion inhibiting vapour migrates from the injection point along the pipe to form a hydrophobic protective layer on metal surfaces beneath the insulation. This passive layer is long-lasting, and could protect the surface in the presence of chloride-containing moisture, and withstand high temperatures up to 350 °C, concluded the company. In addition to preventing CUI, the company also claims the technology can also be used for the corrosion protection of aboveground storage tanks, and void space protection.

Investigating curing-induced internal stress in epoxy coatings

Industry News

A recent article describes the effects of epoxy binder, curing agent, filler, initial solvent concentration, curing temperature, and relative humidity, on the curing-induced internal stress in epoxy coatings.

According to the report, curing-induced internal stresses in epoxy coatings are highly influenced by the type and concentration of their ingredients, and the conditions applied. In this new work, the effects on the internal stress development of the epoxy/crosslinker chemistry, curing temperature, relative humidity, filler conditions, and initial solvent concentration, were studied. An elevated curing temperature (35 or 45 °C) resulted in a smaller elastic modulus and, despite an accelerated curing reaction and a higher final reactant conversion, only a slight increase, around 0.2 MPa, in the average internal stress. An increased relative humidity (from 35 to 60 %), also resulted in a smaller elastic modulus and less volumetric shrinkage and internal stress. However, at 90 % relative humidity, the internal stress, due to an enhanced final reactant conversion, was higher than observed at 60 % RH.

The study noted that the presence of either BaSO4 or CaCO3 filler in the formulation reduced the final reactant conversion and volumetric shrinkage, but resulted in a higher elastic modulus and internal stress. 0.6 MPa.

The study presents guidelines to optimise coating formulations and curing conditions to avoid internal stress.

The study was published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 173, December 2022.

IMechE Argyll Ruane renews 10-year strategic partnership agreement with the Institute of Corrosion

IMechE Argyll Ruane renews 10-year strategic partnership agreement with the Institute of Corrosion

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Last month, the president of the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), Stephen Tate, met with Chris Kirby, Advisor, and ICorr Manager, Dale O’Reilly, of IMechE Argyll Ruane (IAR) to officially sign a further ten-year partnership agreement between the Institute of Corrosion and IMechE Argyll Ruane.
The ICorr scheme is undergoing a period of rapid expansion, with significant investment being made by both ICorr and IAR to enhance their service provision. The revised partnership agreement demonstrates a further commitment to their collaborative approach, utilising the knowledge and skills across both organisations to further develop the course content, systems and processes, to ensure the very best training courses are provided to clients around the world.


Chris Kirby and President of ICorr, Stephen Tate, signing new 10-year partnership agreement.

IMechE Argyll Ruane have been delivering corrosion and coatings inspection training courses and examinations accredited by the Institute of Corrosion for over 20 years and have supported the expansion of the ICorr certification scheme around the globe by forming partnerships with key organisations to be able to provide classroom and online training in the UK, Europe, Turkey, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Africa, the Middle East and Australia.

The partnership enables both organisations to push forward with their strategic objectives of achieving:

  • A greater provision to offer online and blended approaches for courses – enabling greater flexibility in course offering and supporting an industry desire to keep the face-to-face element of the course compact, effectively utilising contact time with the trainer whilst maintaining the high quality of the course content. For example, candidates will soon be able to complete online elements for courses such as Level 2 Insulation Inspector and Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Inspector prior to attending the course.
  • A commitment to standardising course requirements/syllabi – implementing new protocols and continual improvement processes for the development of new, and the reviewing of current, course syllabi, ensuring clients receive the highest standard of training courses to meet the changing requirements of industry.
  • An ability to partner with a greater number of organisations – aligning with the Institute of Corrosion’s vision of expanding the global influence of the ICorr certification scheme.

“Our partnership with the Institute of Corrosion has grown from strength to strength over the years and we look forward to continuing working collaboratively to progress the scheme within industry and ensure candidates continue to receive the very best training courses.”

  • Dale O’Reilly, ICorr Manager at IMechE Argyll Ruane.

“I can personally speak of the huge contribution IAR have made over 30 or more years to this Industry and to my Corrosion colleagues. I remember very well my early training with them as a Snr. Painting Inspector which helped lay the foundations of my career in Corrosion”

  • Stephen Tate, President of ICorr.


Chris Kirby, President of ICorr Stephen Tate, and IMechE Argyll Ruane ICorr Manager Dale O’Reilly.

For more information about ICorr training courses delivered by IMechE Argyll Ruane and their training partners, visit: argyllruane.imeche.org/coatings-corrosion

For further information about the ICorr scheme, visit https://www.icorr.org/training-qualifications/

World Coatings Council publishes first global sustainability report

World Coatings Council publishes first global sustainability report

Industry News

The World Coatings Council has announced the publication of its inaugural report on “Sustainability in the Global Paint & Coatings Industry.”

The report highlights the global industry’s ongoing sustainability efforts to advance technologies in coating science and manufacturing, while minimising impacts on human health and the environment. The report emphasises the critical role coatings and the global industry play in contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report also emphasises that coatings are essential to making products and our built infrastructure more sustainable by providing resistance and durability; providing critical performance properties for safe and healthy communities; and serving a critical role for applications in the health and food sectors, among many others. It also highlights the industry’s efforts to achieve resource efficiency in production processes, consideration of raw material consumption, and implementation of health and safety measures to ensure decent work and economic growth.

The report can be found at the Website of the World Coatings Council, https://worldcoatingscouncil.org/WCC-Sustainability-Report/#page=1

Dr Douglas Mills, ICorr Honorary Fellow, Is Named EFC Honorary Fellow

Dr Douglas Mills, ICorr Honorary Fellow, Is Named EFC Honorary Fellow

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A Story of Experience, Wisdom, and Energy for All Things Corrosion

Dr Douglas Mills, ICorr Honorary Fellow, has been named an EFC Honorary Fellow, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in the field of corrosion and engineering science, as well as his commitment, impact, and delivery of significant benefit in his work and roles within the EFC.

It all began in Cambridge

Dr Mills’ passion for all things corrosion was first cemented at the University of Cambridge, where he graduated as a BA(Hons) in Metallurgy & Chemistry in 1970, before gaining his MA in 1973, and PhD in Metallurgy and Materials Science in 1974.

A profound influence on the direction of his career was given by Dr ‘Jack’ E. O. Mayne, who supervised Douglas’s PhD in the field of corrosion and protection. In addition to being a Don at Cambridge, Dr Mayne also ran a paint company in London, a combination that seemed rather attractive to Douglas.

A man of many talents

During his career, Douglas has demonstrated that he has many talents to offer to industry and academia.

Perhaps taking his lead from Dr Mayne, Douglas has managed to combine sharing his knowledge and experience with students while engaging industry in collaborative research projects. These have included joint research projects with companies such as Pronto Paints, Bearwood Engineering, Mott MacDonald and DCVG.

He has been an Editorial Board Member of the Corrosion Engineering Science and Technology Journal, and is currently the UK Principal Expert on the ISO Committee responsible for developing standards for assessment of anti-corrosive paints.

Since the late 1970s, Douglas has sought to improve understanding of corrosion not only through his research work, but also by lecturing and tutoring at educational establishments that include Trent Polytechnic, the University of Nottingham, and North Dakota State University.

For more than 20 years, Douglas was also PhD/MPhil/EngD/MSc examiner for the University of Swansea, University of Witwatersrand, University of Manchester, and Sheffield Hallam University. And between 2008 and 2020, he participated in the Erasmus Exchange scheme with the Technical University of Gdansk. Douglas hasn’t restricted his love of teaching to engineering and science, either.

Douglas hasn’t restricted his love of teaching to engineering and science, either. At one time, he taught classical guitar in schools!

Extra-curricular activities in corrosion

Douglas’s extra-curricular activities in corrosion are also notable, including:

  • He was the Technical Secretary of the Institute of Corrosion between 1998 and 2017
  • Co-Organiser of the EUROCORR Conference in Edinburgh in 2008
  • Co-Organiser of organised ACPOC (Advances in Corrosion Protection by Organic Coatings) Conference in Cambridge in 2015, for which he also co-edited conference proceedings
  • Editor of the EFC Newsletter between 2016 and 2022.

A long history of involvement with EFC

Of course, while Dr Mills has had a full and active career in the field of corrosion, the awarding of Honorary Fellowship of the EFC is to recognize the tremendous and specific contribution he has made to the EFC.

As well as recognizing his incredible accomplishment in the field of interpretation of electrochemical response of coatings on metals using techniques such as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Electrochemical Noise (EN), the EFC jury noted his long-term, active involvement in a wide range of EFC Working Parties and his valuable contribution to the EFC.

Slowing down, but not stopping

Dr. Douglas Mills is a respected and accomplished figure in the field of corrosion and engineering science, with a wealth of experience, talents, and a passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge.

This latest recognition as an EFC Honorary Fellow is a testament to his outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of corrosion and his long-term, active involvement in various EFC Working Parties.

He now plans to remain in his current academic role for at least another year, helping to uncover “the mysteries about corrosion that need to be solved.”

On behalf of all here at the Institute of Corrosion, we congratulate you on the award of Honorary Fellowship of EFC, Dr Douglas Mills. And we look forward to many more years of your experience, wisdom, and energy for all things corrosion.