Lower Thermal Conductivity

Typical ceramic sphere technologies use air-filled/hollow ceramic spheres as their primary means of thermal resistance. While this was the most efficient method to control heat 20-30 years ago, times have changed.

There are many new technologies on the market to help make these coatings more efficient and able to be applied at a lower overall film thickness. By incorporating more efficient heat-control particles, such as Aerolon Marine’s advanced porous materials, you can apply less coating and achieve a more thermally efficient system.

K-value is a direct measure of how well a substance slows heat transfer — the lower the K-value, the more thermally efficient a coating is. Most of these older ceramic technologies have a K value in the .07-.1 W/mK. Aerolon Marine has a K-value of .049 W/mK. This means you can use 40-50% less Aerolon Marine and still achieve the same or better performance as your traditional ceramic technologies. I.e., a 100-mil (2.5 mm) application of your ceramic sphere technology can be achieved in as little as 50 mils (1.25 mm), with the thermal performance of Aerolon Marine.

Faster Application with Fewer Passes

Ceramic sphere anti-condensation coatings often require multiple passes, usually around 20 mils per coat, to achieve effective thermal resistance. When these products are specified at 100 mil or more, this can require 5-6 coats or more! This increases labor hours and introduces variability in film thickness.

Series 972 achieves performance at practical film builds with spray-friendly consistency, allowing crews to reach target thickness more efficiently, typically in a single coat.

Time-saving impact:

• Fewer application passes required
• Reduced spray time per surface area
• Less dry time and downtime between coats

On large surfaces such as bulkheads or in machinery spaces, these efficiencies scale quickly, saving days throughout a full vessel project.

Shorter Downtime and Return to Service

Marine coating schedules are often dictated by cure schedules and environmental constraints. Delays between coats or the need to apply multiple coats can cascade into major scheduling issues and delays in getting other trades back into these spaces.

Series 972 is designed for efficient drying and recoating intervals, helping keep projects on track.

Compared to ceramic systems that may require multiple coats, all with extended drying times, Aerolon Marine can significantly compress coating schedules. A typical 5-6-coat application with the old ceramic sphere technology can take over a week to install. Aerolon Marine can typically be applied in just 1–2 coats and completed within one to two days, allowing other work on the vessel to resume up to five days sooner and enabling other maintenance to resume more quickly.

Less Rework Over the Vessel Lifecycle

In marine environments, coatings are exposed to vibration, thermal cycling, and high humidity. Ceramic Sphere-style coatings can become brittle or lose effectiveness over time, leading to maintenance and reapplication.

Series 972’s flexible, durable film is engineered to withstand these stresses.

Time-saving impact:

• Fewer maintenance interventions
• Reduced drydock time for coating repairs
• Longer intervals between recoating cycles

Over the life of a vessel, this translates into substantial operational time savings.

While ceramic anti-condensation coatings have served the industry for years, they often come with hidden time costs: multiple passes, longer cure times, additional systems, and increased maintenance.

Tnemec Series 972 Aerolon Marine shifts the equation. By combining high-performance condensation control with simplified application, faster turnaround, and long-term durability, it enables shipyards and operators to:

• Complete projects faster
• Reduce labor hours
• Minimize construction/vessel downtime
• Extend maintenance intervals

For marine professionals focused on keeping projects — and vessels — moving, Series 972 offers a clear advantage: it saves time at every stage, from application to lifecycle maintenance.

Estimated Example: 5,000 sq ft Weather-Exposed Bulkheads and Pilot House

To illustrate the impact, consider a 5,000 sq ft (464 sq m) application on a commercial vessel — typical of overheads, around windows, and bulkheads that require condensation control.

Assumptions

• 3-person spray crew
• Standard marine application conditions, humid, confined spaces
• Comparable surface prep already completed
• 80mils (2 mm) DFT application for a .07W/mK product (50 mils of .049 W/mK)

Net Time Savings

Labor Hours - 70-80% reduction

Project Duration - 4-6 days faster completion

Application Passes ~75% fewer

For marine professionals, the question is no longer just “Does the coating work?” — it’s “How quickly and efficiently can it be applied and maintained?”

Compared to traditional ceramic anti-condensation coatings, Tnemec Series 972 Aerolon Marine delivers a clear time advantage at every stage:

• Fewer Passes
• Reduced Labor coats
• Greatly shorter application timeline
• Reduced lifecycle maintenance

In a 5,000 sq ft (464 sq m) application alone, that can mean cutting labor more than in half and shaving days off the schedule — a difference that compounds across an entire vessel or fleet.

If minimizing downtime and maximizing crew efficiency are priorities, Series 972 is not just a performance upgrade — it’s a scheduling advantage.