Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings was awarded the Steel Tank Institute (STI) 2013 Affiliate New Product of the Year for its Nova-Plate 325 tank lining in March at STI’s annual meeting in partnership with the Steel Plate Fabricators Association.

Prior to the introduction of Nova-Plate 325, petrochemical tanks and pressure vessels were protected with a lining that would require multiple coats, and then are baked at extreme, high temperatures to achieve a completely cured surface. This process would leave the tanks out of service, costing asset owners and steel fabricators significant time and money. Nova-Plate 325’s advanced glass- and ceramic-filled novolac technology is the industry’s first tank lining that can be applied in one coat at a film thickness of 40 mils DFT, and air cured and returned to service in less than 48 hours.

This same advanced chemistry was engineered to address the utmost in chemical resistance demands, including immersion in concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCL) and high temperature flowback conditions, with the ability to withstand temperatures in immersion service for crude oil up to 300 F, contents of up to 80 percent sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄), and ethanol up to 120 F.

For example, frac tanks with variable service conditions, such as those that hold 37 percent HCL or other aggressive frac chemicals, can find their conventional epoxy lining destroyed in just a few hours. Nova-Plate 325, with its 98 percent solids and edge-retentive qualities, can withstand these conditions, making it an essential product for this application.

“We were honored to receive this award for such an innovation in the steel fabrication industry,” said Ron Knecht, Regional Market Manager, Oil & Gas, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. “The desire to achieve energy independence has led to increased exploitation of heavy and super-heavy crude oil basins, as well as development of tar sand reserves. That’s made it all the more important for the coatings industry to step up with development of products that can withstand high temperatures and pressures.”

The Annual Product of the Year award is presented by STI to recognize new products of affiliate member companies that enhance the fabrication, versatility and longevity of steel tanks and pressure vessels. These products allow steel to continue to be the material of choice for industrial and municipal tank construction.