August 2021 Vol. 4

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PPN- The Leading Source of Industry News on Polymer Pipes and Plastic Pipe Testing

Global News on Plastic Piping and Fittings


NEWSMAKERS:  * AGRU * ASTM * Aquatherm * Borouge * Class Action * Electrofusion * ExcelPlas * Failure Analysis * GF Piping * McElroy * PE100 * PE-RT * PEX * Pipeline Plastics * PPI * PPN * PP-R * Uponor

INDUSTRY NEWS

Uponor PEX Pipe Hit By Class Action Lawsuit (Declassified)
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/9RME6TRKcxwzinT

Uponor PEX Piping Plagued by Cracking Defect Class Action Alleges (Breaking News)
https://www.classaction.org/news/discontinued-red-blue-uponor-pex-piping-plagued-by-cracking-defect-class-action-alleges

Why More Professional Commercial Mechanical System Designers are Turning to PEX and PP-RCT (and away from PP-R)
Leveraging Polymer Piping Solutions to Meet Commercial Demands
https://www.pmengineer.com/articles/95483-leveraging-polymer-piping-solutions-to-meet-commercial-demands

Pipeline Plastics Promotes Mike Leathers to CEO
https://illinoisnewstoday.com/pipeline-plastics-promotes-mike-leathers-to-ceo/341017/

The World Leader in Plastic Pipe Fusion Unveils New Website for Training and Courses
https://www.mcelroy.com/university/

Borouge Patents New Multimodal Polypropylene Composition for Pipe Applications
https://patents.justia.com/patent/11072699
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/11072699.pdf

ASTM Issues New Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials (ASTM D3350 – 21)
Critical sections include thermal stability by OIT and oxidative resistance of PE pipe to chlorinated water   
https://www.astm.org/Standards/D3350.htm

Mobile Friendly Plastic Pipe News Website (One Stop for the Latest News & Updates)
https://www.polypipenews.com.au/

BUSINESS NEWS

Georg Fischer AG Hits All Time Record Stock Price (Breaking News)
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/BXgCxmYIYVHDVL5

Uponor Hits 5 Year Record Stock Price (Breaking News)
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/PmKWilpjov2LSM7

ELECTROFUSION FAILURES

Analysis of Georg Fischer Electrofusion Failures [PDF]
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/rjwNi3mvrYiw1vS

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…………

United States Sues Aquatherm and its US distributors Over Failure of Polypropylene (PP-R) Hot Water Pipes
https://vision6.excelplas.com/ch/38100/5jpj8/2959741/I1GEUkJMuuoM4lox9g.VQRCJ0hffT5TIOWizti2i.html

NEW ARTICLES

Crack Resistance Tests of Samples from Polyethylene Pipes
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/1079/4/042010/pdf

Qualification of Polymer Materials for Dynamic Riser Service 
https://onepetro.org/OTCONF/proceedings-abstract/21OTC/4-21OTC/D041S045R007/466679

JOBS

AGRU Seeking Special Project Manager for Brisbane
Looking for a project estimator who has experience in HDPE and other Piping systems. Capable of working in Multiple industries including Gas, Mining, Civil, plumbing and manufacturing
https://au.linkedin.com/jobs/view/special-project-manager-at-agru-australia-pty-ltd-2663244810?refId-Kg5CUrOUTHFMFU4i1SyMRA-&trackingId-c4xZTmO5QAJdatJQ0XuBug-&position-17&pageNum-0&trk-public-jobs-jserp-result-search-card

TESTING

Chinese Develop New RCP Rapid Cracking Propagation Testing Apparatus for Plastic Pipe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx8w2MnepJ0

Robotic-based Terahertz Imaging for Non-destructive Testing of a PVC Fitting
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963869521000992

ExcelPlas Interdisciplinary Testing Labs for all your Poly Pipe testing needs, tensile, compression, thermal, DSC, TGA, FTIR, shear strength, pipe testing, plastic recycling, plastic pipe failure analysis, plastic identification, analytical methods, additive analysis  etc.
https://vision6.excelplas.com/ch/38100/5jpj8/2904547/I1GEUkJMuuoM4lox9g.VzFk3xn7_uv7hTeOW5KQ4.html

FAILURE ANALYSIS

Q1 and Q2 2021 – The Second Year of COVID-19 and Plastic Pipe Failures
It has been a busy Q1 and Q2 2021 at ExcelPlas working on the following failure analysis jobs:

  • 24 PP-R pipe failures
  • 9 PEX pipe failures
  • 7 Polybutylene pipe failures
  • 6 HDPE pipe failures
  • 4 Electrofusion Fitting PE Failures
  • 3 PVC pipe failures

Should you want to discuss a plastic pipe failure investigation please contact us at:
https://www.excelplas.com/contact-us/

ExcelPlas Investigating Poly Pipe Failures
Through failure analysis & forensic chemistry, we help clients improve product performance, increase profits, & resolve product liability claims with plastic pipes and fittings.
We are dedicated to unmatched excellence in failure analysis, investigative chemistry, material testing, and expert witnessing for plastics, polymers and composites.
With over 25 years of investigative experience, the staff at ExcelPlas are uniquely positioned to help clients resolve the most challenging performance and processing issues related to materials and finished pipes and fittings.
https://www.excelplas.com/contact-us/


ExcelPlas Labs Pipe Failure Investigations
ExcelPlas Labs have created a new benchmark in failure analysis of HDPE, PP-R, PB and PEX pipes in addition to PVC &  CPVC pipes as well as composite GRP and GRE pipes.  When a plastic pipeline fails to perform as intended, our team can determine the root cause of failure (e.g.  oxidative failure, chemical failure, creep failure, over-stress failure, fatigue failure, design failure, etc).  ExcelPlas are experienced with all plastic piping failure modes and mechanisms including Slow Crack Growth (SCG) Rapid Crack Propagation (RCP), Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR), Oxidative Stress Cracking (OSC), cyclic fatigue, manufacturing defects, and polymer material problems.
http://www.excelplas.com/

ExcelPlas Strain Hardening Test (SHT) for HDPE Pipes
The SHT in accordance with ISO 18488 is a relatively new, but excellent way to obtain a rapid indication of the Stress Crack Growth (SCG) resistance of your piping material. This tensile test performed at 80°C has become in just a few years the new standard for Batch Release Testing (BRT). And not without reason.  The test requires only a very small amount of material, the results are very reliable with a very low inter-laboratory scatter and the results are available within a few days, regardless of the PE grade. The SHT is usually performed on resin material but it can also be performed on samples taken directly from pipes or sheets. As accredited lab, EXCELPLAS is happy to discuss the possibilities with you, whether it is for BRT, benchmarking, quality control of your (high performing) PE grade or for polymer compliance/ validation.
http://www.excelplas.com/

Australian Plastic Pipe Testing Laboratory
ExcelPlas Laboratories provides a comprehensive plastic pipe joint testing service and is equipped with a state of the art laboratory to test a range of polymer materials including polyethylene and polypropylene. ExcelPlas can carry out testing on plastic tube and pipe ranging in wall thickness from 3 mm to 80 mm. ExcelPlas Laboratories provide a comprehensive service to Industrial & commercial companies, environmental consultants, Government bodies and local Authority customers throughout Australia & NZ. All testing is carried and out in accordance with ISO & ASTM methods and is fully accredited to ISO 17025 by NATA.
http://www.excelplas.com/

Australia’s Plastic Pipe Testing Laboratory
ExcelPlas Laboratories provides a comprehensive plastic pipe joint testing service and is equipped with a state of the art laboratory to test a range of polymer materials including polyethylene and polypropylene. ExcelPlas can carry out testing on plastic tube and pipe ranging in wall thickness from 20mm to 1200mm. ExcelPlas Laboratories provide a comprehensive service to Industrial & commercial companies, environmental consultants, Government bodies and local Authority customers throughout Australia and Asia. 
All testing is carried and out in accordance with ASTM, ISO & WIS methods and is fully accredited to ISO 17025 by NATA.
• Butt Fusion Weld Testing
• Weld Testing
• Testing of Electro-fusion Welds
• Tear on saddle joints
• Crush De-cohesion of Electro-fusion welds
• Polymer & Plastics Identification
• Chemical & Thermal Testing
• Site Audits
http://www.excelplas.com/

ExcelPlas – the Australian Pipes & Fittings Testing Laboratory

  • Accredited to ISO 17025 by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Australia, and is Australia’s largest laboratory dedicated for the testing of plastic pipes and fittings to various Standards which include Australian, European and International Standards.
  • The staff employed at the laboratory have a combined experience of more than 85 years within the plastics industry specifically with manufacturing, quality control and the research and development of plastic piping systems including HDPE, PEX, PP-R, PVC, U-PVC, M-PVC, O-PVC, ABS, GRP, GRE and PB.
  • Services provided include conformance testing, compliance testing, batch release testing, root cause analysis for field failures and non-destructive testing of samples.
  • http://www.excelplas.com/

ExcelPlas Lab Specialising in HDPE Pipe Condition Monitoring, Failure Analysis and Testing
In the event of a HDPE buttweld or electrofusion weld failing during initial testing, or in service, we can conduct investigations to assist in identifying the root cause of the failure.
This service also extends to the premature failure of the pipe or fitting itself.
http://www.excelplas.com/plastic-pipes

ExcelPlas Pipe Testing is a Leader in the Field of Polyethylene (PE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Testing
ExcelPlas is accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for butt weld tests, bend and tensile tests, peel decohesion tests on electro fusion sockets and failure mode determination
http://www.polypipetesting.com.au/butt-fusion-welds/

New UHMWPE Pipe for Tailing Offers Greater Than 4X the Abrasion Resistance of PE100 (Australia wide)
http://slurrypipes.com.au/

ExcelPlas Poly Pipe Weld Inspection Lists Top 7 Causes of Weld Failure:
• Lack of scraping
• Inaccurate scraping
• Contamination from dirt, water, oil or clays
• Lack of Paralell-ness of fusion faces
• Misalignment of surfaces
• Time, temperature and pressure deviations
• Not adhering to cool times

We have extensive experience in inspection of poly pipe welds for assuring welded joint quality.  Direct Poly Pipe Inspection ensures that operators are following the proven welding procedure; this reduces the occurrences of operational errors which lead to defects such as inclusions, lack of fusion (LoF), porosity and misalignment.
More information, contact [email protected]

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https://www.polypipenews.com.au/advertise/

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