LNG Vessel Uses Araldite Adhesives

Huntsman has supplied its Araldite adhesives for the construction of an LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier vessel, built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard and owned by China LNG Shipping holdings. The country's first LNG import project employed Araldite adhesive for use in the containment system. LNG ships are among the largest transportation vessels in the world.

They carry huge supplies of LNG to energy customers across the globe with increasing regularity as the demand for LNG continues to grow. China's first domestically built LNG carrier, the Dapeng Sun, with a capacity of around 147,000m3 went into service in late 2007. Huntsman's Araldite LNG epoxy adhesive, XD 4460-2/XD 4461-2, is primarily used to create high-performance, durable seals between the inside of the LNG vessels and the internal insulation box that helps to keep the gas stable at temperatures as low as -170C and up to +40C.

It also has to be able to tolerate conditions of high humidity and salt water, with vessels at sea for at least 20 days. The Hudong-Zhonghoa shipyard engineers use a mix/meter dispensing system to apply the adhesive in a malleable rope shape. With its low density, smooth pumping and zero slump, the adhesive is easy to handle and apply. Once cured, it has high compression strength and low creep. Huntsman has been supplying Araldite engineering adhesive and mastic solutions to the LNG sector since 1992.

The products are approved for use in the fabrication in LNG vessels by industry specifier Gaz Transport and Technigaz (GTT) and by Lloyds Register. It is anticipated by authorities that over the next five years, around 10 LNG terminals will be built in China and many new ships will be required to service these.