Corrosion of Steel and Stainless Steel Under Thermal Insulation: A Technology Transfer Between the Chemical Processing Industry and the Radioactive Materials Packaging and Transportation Industry

The proliferation of corrosion failures of both steel and stainless steel under insulation in recent years has caused this problem to be of gr.eat concern to the operators of petroleum, gas and chemical processing plants. We now welcome this opportunity to take part in this technology exchange with PATRAM members. Piping and vessels are insulated for a purpose: i.e., to conserve energy by keeping cold processes cold and hot processes bot. Once a vessel is covered with insulation and operates in a satisfactory manner, concern for the condition of the metal under insulation usually fade. Thus, corrosion of steel and stress . corrosion cracking of stainless begins and develops in an insidious fashion, often with serious and costly consequences many years later • (ASTN1914) In order to effectively and economically deal with corrosion under insulation, a systems approach needs to be developed which c\"onsiders the metal surface, temperatures, water, insulation, and design.