Benefits of G10 Micarta® for Insulation

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Pipe Clamps

G10 Micarta® can be very cost-effective insulation as compared to Polyurethane foam (PUF), especially for medium and large shoes. It offers tremendous benefits at various stages of a project, including but not limited to:

  • Procurement
  • Installation
  • Handling, transportation, and storage
  • Plant Maintenance
Cryogenic Pipe Supports with Micarta® Insulation for an LNG Plant

Major Advantage of G10 Micarta® Supports for Procurement

G10 Micarta® supports involve fewer steps to manufacture, allowing for a quicker fabrication turnaround. It takes 2-3 weeks less on average than PUF supports for delivery. This enables the ability to catch up on deadlines and reduce downtime.

  • Additional Procurement & Fabrication Benefits:
    • Fewer manufacturing steps → 2–3 weeks faster delivery than PUF supports.

    • Lower material and fabrication cost → reduced overall capital expenditure.

    • Compatible with shop welding directly to pipe spools (no field installation needed), streamlining workflow early in the project.
    • G10 Micarta® shoes cost less than PUF shoes of the same size, meaning Low Capital Expenses:

Advantages of G10 Micarta® Supports During Construction/Installation

G10 shoes can be sent to the pipe fabricator and can weld directly to the pipe spool, meaning there is minimal installation in the field. It takes 3-5 hours to install a PUF shoe in-field, depending on the size. G10 Micarta® shoes save that FIELD installation time.

Micarta® Block Assemblies for Placement Beneath a Saddle Support of a Vessel

Shop welding of G10 Micarta® shoes is much cheaper. As G10 shoes are weld to pipe spool at the fabricator’s shop, they can be inspected and tested in the shop; no inspection and testing in the field. More cost savings as inspection and testing is done at cheaper rates at pipe spool fabricator facilities rather than in the field.

As G10 Micarta® shoes are handled along with the pipe spools, there are fewer chances of missing supports in the field. Less OS&Ds to worry about for both the client and supplier.

Additional Installation & Field Efficiency Benefits:

  • Eliminates field installation labor entirely; PUF typically requires 3–5 hours per shoe.

  • Avoids $450–$750 per support in field labor, travel, and per diem costs.

  • Shop-welded supports allow inspection/testing at fabricator shops — faster, cheaper, and more consistent than field inspection.

Major Advantage of G10 Micarta® Supports while Handling, Transportation & Storage

G10 Micarta® supports are less fragile than PUF, making the handling, transportation, and storage of G10 to be trouble-free. No special packaging required, saving the time & the cost of special crating. Stronger G10 supports reduce the chances of accidental damage, thereby the need to re-fabricate the support.

Cryogenic Pipe Supports with Micarta® G10 Insulation, and Axial Stops for an LNG Facility

Additional Handling, Transportation & Storage Benefits:

  • Stronger and less fragile than PUF → greatly reduced risk of breakage or rework.
  • No special crating or packaging required → measurable savings in logistics, storage, and transport planning.

G10 Micarta® supports have insignificant water/moisture absorption rate, this means:

  • No structural deterioration in adverse weather, especially in the wake of heavy rain and storms. PUF deteriorates in wet weather or humid climates
  • Better life of the support
  • Less maintenance and more saving

Additional Maintenance & Durability Benefits:

  • Extremely low moisture absorption ensures long-term protection, even in harsh or humid environments.
  • Virtually weatherproof performance delivers significantly longer service life with minimal maintenance.

Testing of G10 Micarta® Support

Micarta test Micarta test close up Micarta testing

Comparison of G10 Micarta® vs. PUF from previous test reports:

Time-dependent temperature variations at the stated locations using G-10 Micarta®.
(i) T-pipe; (ii) T-top; (iii) T- ambient; (iv) T-Bottom, (v) T-BOS.		 Time-dependent temperature variations at the stated locations using Polyurethane.
(i) T-pipe; (ii) T-top; (iii) T- ambient; (iv) T-Bottom, (v) T-BOS.

Overall Project Benefits

  • Lower total cost of ownership factoring procurement, installation, inspection, and long-term maintenance.

  • Significant time savings across fabrication and construction phases.

  • Reliable, proven performance from PT&P’s G10 Micarta® supports, validated through field use and test data.

  • Helps projects stay on schedule and within budget — leading to higher client satisfaction and smoother project execution.
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