Issue 8, October 2016: 20 Years of Solutions in the Refinery

SilcoTek became a coatings company because we have a passion for helping people and businesses conquer their most difficult challenges.  By improving the surface properties of the materials they use, our customers can run their machines longer, manufacture complex products more efficiently, and continue to develop innovations that push the scientific and industrial world forward.  We don't sell any products because we're solely focused on seeing how far our coating technology and service can make our customers go.

There is no better example of SilcoTek solving real-life problems than a refinery.  From the flare to the fence line, our coatings provide critical performance properties that help companies both improve their production output and accurately monitor its impact on the environment.  

This issue of On the Surface dives deep into the refinery and where SilcoTek coatings have been used to solve the toughest material problems for the last 20 years and counting.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been linked to public health issues caused by air pollution, greenhouse gases, and ozone.  Reliable sampling methods and accurate analysis of VOCs have become critical to understanding and mitigating their impact to our environment.  The EPA has even instituted Rule 325 for monitoring VOCs around the perimeter of refineries based on demands from the Clean Air Act.

SilcoNert® 2000-coated stainless steel transfer tubing greatly outperformed electropolished and PEEK-lined tubing for VOC adsorption and outgassing performance.  Our coatings are the most inert treatments available for preventing problems caused by metal flow paths.

Click here to view the study from the Dutch Metrology Institute

Refineries present some of the most challenging physical environments for materials in the world.  Even stainless steels, typically selected for their corrosion resistance, have severely limited lifetimes in refinery applications.

SilcoTek coatings give engineers and technicians in refineries the ability to continue using their preferred materials of construction while adding the chemical compatibility and corrosion resistance they need to get the results their customers demand.  

Since every job is different, we've put together a handy guide to show you exactly which coating to choose in a variety of applications throughout the refinery.  Share this with your colleagues and customers for your next project!

Click here to view our Refinery and Petrochemical Solution Guide

Question: I'm still confused about coating selection.  I've heard a lot about your Dursan coating, but when do I use it?

Answer: Great question!  We recorded an in-depth webinar that talks all about Dursan, how it compares to our other coatings, and some common scenarios where Dursan is the best choice.  

Click here to access the webinar on-demand

7 Ways the Old Sulfur Management Methods Won't Cut it for Tier 3

If you aren't already aware, major capital projects fueled by Tier 3 low-sulfur vehicle emission and fuel standards are on the horizon.  With requirements from the EPA that have such a big impact on the end product, it's easy to overlook one major aspect to compliance: the sampling system.  With this new regulation, the allowable average sulfur level in gasoline will be reduced by over 60%, to just 10 ppm from the current 30 ppm.

Refineries need coatings like SilcoNert® to ensure they know exactly how much sulfur is in the gasoline they're producing.  Additionally, inert-coated sampling systems run faster with more uptime than uncoated systems. 

Click here to read our blog post to learn more.

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Jesse Bischof is a Researcher with our R&D team and SilcoTek's newest employee.  With a background in inorganic chemistry, he joins us after a career in education where he taught high school physics and chemistry here in central Pennsylvania. 

At SilcoTek, we believe that partnering our technical experts with customers leads to the best solutions and outcomes.  We're excited to have Jesse on board to help us in this effort!