May 2023 Vol. 3

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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 in Real-Time


NEWSMAKERS:   * AGRU * Aliaxis * Aquatherm * Benzene * Biofilm Development * Dibutyl Tin * ExcelPlas * Failure Analysis * Hydrogen Transport * Jansen Plastics * Multilayer Pipes * NSF * Plastic Pipe Failures * Plastic Pipe Institute * Polyethylene Pipes * PPI * PP-R Pipe Failures * PVC Pipes * RFL Pipes * SABIC * Wenplastics * UPONOR * Vinidex

BREAKING NEWS

PVC Pipes Found to Leach Organotin
Leaching of Dibutyltin from Virgin PVC Pipes
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00003

Biofilm Development in Plastic Pipes for Drinking Water Systems
Copper pipes gave lower numbers of adherent bacteria suggesting the copper to be the best choice of materials for a household plumbing system to reduce biofilm development, as compared to PE and PVC
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213343723008400

Benzene Diffusion and Partitioning in Contaminated Drinking Water Polyethylene Pipes under Stagnant Conditions
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00040

New NSF Guideline 533: Ingredients Used in Drinking Water Products such as Plastic Pipes
https://www.aspe.org/pipeline/new-nsf-guideline-533-includes-ingredients-used-in-drinking-water-products/

Legal Case on Failing PP-R Pipes – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. AQUATHERM GmbH
https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_case?case=11833392942912363528&q=polypropylene+pipe&hl=en&as_sdt=2006&as_ylo=2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

Canadian Company Wenplastics Awarded 1.4 Mill Dollar Grant to Boost Capacity of Recycling Large Industrial PE Pipes by 150%
https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2023/05/09/grants-boost-north-american-plastics-recycling-efforts/

SABIC Opens European Plastic Pipe Innovation Centre
https://www.sabic.com/en/news/40112-sabic-opens-european-pipe-innovation-center-at-geleen

Major Investment in Innovative Multi-Layer Plastic Pipe Production Plant
https://www.jansen.com/en/news/detail/8/5/2023/major-investment-in-innovative-multi-layer-pipe-production-plant.html

Aliaxis Show How Plastic Barrier Pipework is Ensuring Safe Water on Brownfield Housing Developments
https://www.aliaxis.co.uk/en/news/details/1107427/ensuring-safe-water-supplies-on-brownfield-housing-developments

Uponor North America Names Anna Picchetti as VP, Marketing & Strategy
https://uponor.greenhousedigitalpr.com/anna-picchetti/

Why is Water Conservation Important: The Role of HDPE Pipes (Special Feature by AGRU)
https://agruamerica.com/why-is-water-conservation-important-the-role-of-hdpe-pipes/

Setting the Standards for Large Diameter HDPE Pipe Systems
https://www.pipeliner.com.au/setting-the-standards-for-large-diameter-pipe-systems/

Vulnerability Hotspot Mapping (VHM) of PVC and HDPE Sewer Pipes Based on Deterioration Factors
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1573062X.2023.2208107?journalCode=nurw20

Bangladeshi Plastic Pipe Company Starts Exporting PVC Pipes to USA
https://www.jagonews24.com/en/business/news/68416

PPI Municipal Advisory Board Celebrates 15 Years
https://waterfm.com/ppi-municipal-advisory-board-celebrates-15-years/

HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION

Upcoming Webinar – Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges of Sealing and Protecting Hydrogen Pipelines (17 May, 2023)
https://www.corrosionpedia.com/reg/understanding-and-overcoming-the-challenges-of-sealing-and-protecting-hydrogen-pipelines/7450?utm_source=GPT&utm_medium=email1RN

Latest Studies Show PE Pipes to be the Most Suitable Material for Hydrogen Distribution Network
Results show the PE material to be more suitable for gases containing hydrogen then steel pipelines.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319922059146

Review of Decompression Damage of the Polymer Liner of the Type IV Hydrogen Storage Tank
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/10/2258/pdf?version=1683795923

NEW RESEARCH

Study on the O-/ U-type Collapse of Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes (RTPs) Subjected to Hydrostatic External Pressure: Experimental Tests and Analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014111872300127X

NEW JOBS

Vinidex Pipes Seeking Manufacturing Team Leader
https://jobs.workable.com/view/7mJvEw1ZNfcsEnfiNgzcAC/manufacturing-team-leader-in-toowoomba-at-aliaxis-group-(australia)

Vinidex Urgently Seeking Procurement Specialist
https://grabjobs.co/australia/job/full-time/marketing-media/procurement-specialist-urgent-position-22047006

CONDITION ASSESSMENT

ExcelPlas Pipe Condition Assessment (PCA)
Owners and operators of plants have been using thermoplastics for many years, transporting water, gas and chemicals along their process. However, for operational and maintenance purposes, the asset integrity of the piping system is required. This could be for a number of reason, such as piping system maintenance, ability to maintain current service conditions. EP offers its 30 plus years of plastic piping application experience to assess the fitness for service of used piping. Our specialists inspect the samples in our state-of-the-art accredited materials testing laboratory for piping components, to give our clients the necessary information to make an informed decision and next steps during a project’s operational, maintenance or design phases resolve threats to client assets. ExcelPlas offers the following testing to determine the condition of plastic pipes:
Technical Data:

  • Visual Inspection
  • Dimensional check
  • Oxidation Induction Time (OIT)
  • Melt Flow Rate (MFR)
  • Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
  • Hydrostatic Test
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry test (DSC)
  • Vicat test
  • Microscopic analysis
  • Report with assessment of the integrity of the piping material

PLASTIC PIPE CONSULTANTS

Plastic Pipe Consulting Experts and Services
If you need a team of pipe plastic experts, then ExcelPlas Consulting is the obvious choice – our size is our strength in a market dominated by single consultants.
We provide services on everything from material selection, product testing, processing to failure analysis
https://www.excelplas.com/contact-us/

PIPE FAILURE ANALYSIS

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/

MORE POLY PIPE NEWS

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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/

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 3mm 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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