July 2021 Vol. 1

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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:  * Aquatherm * Blansol * Borouge * CalcEdge™ * Cooke & Dowsett * Failure * Easypress™ * ExcelPlas * Georg Fischer  * GF Piping * GRP * IPLEX * IPEX * KiTEC Piping * ISO * Lendlease * LG Chem * Lucene™ * PE100 * PE-RT * PEX * PPN * PP-R * PP-RCT * SABIC * Uponor * Vinidex

LEGAL NEWS

Georg Fischer Appeals Judgement Where it Was Found Negligent Over Fusion Welding Machine (Declassified)
Hundreds of plastic pipes needed to be removed and replaced when it was discovered that one of the settings on the Georg Fischer IR-225 fusion welding machine used to weld the pipes had been mistakenly recalibrated during a service call, which potentially compromised the welds. Quality Plus was sued as a result and, in turn, sued the manufacturer of the welding machine, Georg Fischer, LLC, and the company that performed the service call, Plastic Services Northwest, Inc. A jury returned a verdict in favour of Quality Plus, finding that Georg Fischer and Plastic Services were negligent
https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_case?case-11832837228977817835&q-polypropylene-pipe&hl-en&scisbd-2&as-sdt=2006

FAILURE OF POLYMER PIPES

Lendlease Agrees to Replacement of Aquatherm PP-R Hot Water Pipes At Major Melbourne Hospital (Royal Women’s Hospital) (Declassified)
https://doylesarbitrationlawyers.com/rw-health-partnership-pty-ltd-v-lendlease-building-contractors-pty-ltd-2019-vsc-353-29-may-2019/
http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2019/353.html?context=1;query=Aquatherm;mask_path=

Tribunal Hearing Involving Failed Hot Water PP-R Piping from 34 Storey Apartment Tower at 109 Clarendon Street, Southbank (Melbourne) Australia
Owners Corporation 1 Plan No. PS608199K v Aquatherm Australia Pty Limited (ACN: 059 578 782)
Owners Corporation 1 Plan No. PS608199K v Built Vic Pty Ltd (ACN 095 993 365), Built Holdings Pty Ltd(ACN: 108 928 409), Cooke & Dowsett Pty Ltd, Aquatherm Australia Pty Ltd ACN 059 578 782
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2F
https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/109-clarendon-street/13478

Degradation of Polymer Pipes Exposed to Chlorinated Water (A Review) [PDF]
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/I7248SnXY2q9Vf9#pdfviewer

INDUSTRY NEWS

LG Chem Becomes Asia’s No. 1 Polyolefin Producer with New Naphtha Cracking Centre (Breaking News)
Increased demand for Lucene™ SP980 Metallocene Pipe Resin for PERT Pipes
https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2021&no=615674

Sabic Sets Up HDPE Pipe Innovation Centre Across the Globe
https://www.sabic.com/en/industries/building-construction/pipe-utilities/innovation/innovation-support-across-the-globe

PPN Achieves Another Milestone with +40,000 Readers Worldwide
https://www.polypipenews.com.au/

Borouge Seeking Manager, Application Marketing for PE Pipes – Asia South
http://www.borougecareers.com/borouge/VacancyDetail.aspx?PageId=100&VacancyID=154391&lang=en-US

Blansol Offers Easypress™ Press-fitting System for PEX pipes
https://www.blansol.com/pex-multilayer/pex-pipe-fitting-pressfitting/

New App – Vinidex HDPE Lookup with HDPE Pipe Pressure Design Guide
This CalcEdge™ based app assists in selecting HDPE pipe and provides a basic design guideline for the flow and velocity limits of the selected pipe. Temperature deration of the rated pressure is also considered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SlC6K7aEeA

Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating  Appoints Uponor’s Bill Hooper As Chair
https://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/companies-people/ciph-appoints-uponors-bill-hooper-chair/1003412955/

Canadian Pipe Maker IPEX Eyes Off US Market and Opens New Distribution Centre in Texas
https://www.canplastics.com/canplastics/canadian-pipe-maker-ipex-opens-new-distribution-centre-in-garland-texas/1003456593/

NEW PATENTS

Kitec Patents New Method for Manufacturing PEX Piping [PDF]
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20210197529.pdf

NEW PRODUCTS

Fabrication of Anti-Scaling HDPE/Fluorinated Acrylate Polymer/Nano-Silica Composite for Landfill Leachate Piping System
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653521017744!

POLYMER PIPE TESTING SERVICES

Polymer Pipe Failure Analysis – 30 Years Experience
ExcelPlas Polymer Testing Laboratory, ISO-IEC 17025  Recognized & Accredited
Provides independent testing, failure analyses and other analytical services for the Plastics, Composites, HDPE, PP-R, PVC, PEX, PB, GRP Pipes and More!
https://www.excelplas.com/about-us/our-company/

Digital Weld Bead Inspection (DWBI)
ExcelPlas has developed a Digital Weld Bead Inspection Method for quality checks of the integrity of fusion welds to prevent potentially catastrophic leaks from occurring.
https://www.excelplas.com/about-us/our-company/

GRP PIPES

Stress Distribution and Fracture Toughness of Underground Reinforced Plastic Pipe Composite
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/13/2194/pdf

ISO Revises GRP Pipe Standard ISO 23856:2021
Plastics piping systems for pressure and non-pressure water supply, drainage or sewerage — Glass-reinforced thermosetting plastics (GRP) systems based on unsaturated polyester (UP) resin
https://www.iso.org/standard/77173.html

PEX PIPES

Cautionary Warning:  Some PEX Piping is Prone to Development of Cracks Due to Early Oxidation
ExcelPlas Labs have developed a three-step testing program to detect early failure of PEX pipe and their expected service lifetime.
The 3 Step Testing is based on:

  • Oxidative Induction Time (OIT) testing to determine the residual level of oxidative stability (i.e. thermal stability)
  • Quantitative Additive Analysis (QAA) to determine the type and level of protective antioxidants and stabilizer present.
  • Scanning Microscopy on inner surface after bend back to image developing microcracks

Samples of PEX pipe just 10 cm long are needed for the analysis.  7 Day turnaround on test reports.
https://www.excelplas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Excelplas-A4-Brochure-4pp-Plastic-Pipe-Testing-NTs.pdf

BRAND MARKETING

How to Get Noticed by More Than 40,000 People in the Poly Pipe Space Across the Globe
PPN we reaches over 40,000 people each month and this high level of audience engagement comes from years of creating content that matters to the plastic pipe industry.
We provide the industry’s most reliable and current information, and have the trust and attention of the leaders and decision makers.
Not only can we help you get in front of our highly engaged audience, but we also have a number of channels you can use to target your message – as well as the subject matter experts to put it all together.
https://www.polypipenews.com.au/


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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