November 2021 Vol. 2

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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:  * ADNOC * Aliaxis * ASTM * Borealis * CPVC * ExcelPlas * Failure Analysis * FlowGuard * FlowTite® * GF Piping * Loenbro Inspection * NUPI * PE100 * PE-RT * PPN * PP-R * Reece Civil * Rehau * RPC Pipes * SCG * Viadux

INDUSTRY NEWS

Borealis and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) To Invest $6.2bn in New Gigantic Polyethylene Facility for HDPE Pipe Resins
Borouge 4 will boost the company’s annual polyolefin production to 6.4 million tons, making Borouge the world’s largest single-site polyolefin facility.
With the addition of the new unit, Borouge could produce enough polyolefins to meet the manufacture of pipes to supply water to 35 million households
https://www.fuelsandlubes.com/adnoc-and-borealis-to-invest-in-new-polyethylene-facility/
https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2021/11/15/adnoc-and-borealis-sign-62bn-partnership-to-expand-borouges-chemical-output/

Rehau Explain Considerable Performance Benefits of Municipex™ PEXa Over HDPE with New Infographic [PDF]
https://www.rehau.com/downloads/508674/municipex-vs-hdpe-infographic-rehau.pdf

Aliaxis Seeking Group Strategy Director
https://apply.workable.com/aliaxis/j/6B6D17B00F-text-Aliaxis-20is-20a-20leading-20provider,leader-20in-20sustainability-20through-202025

Aliaxis Successfully Complete its €1.6 Billion Refinancing to Fund its Growth with Purpose Strategy
https://aliaxis.com/aliaxis-refinancing-october-2021/

Standardized, Accredited and Fully Independent Testing of Plastic Pipes and Pipelines
ExcelPlas plastic pipes testing services help determine strength and ageing properties of piping materials and systems, serving resin manufacturers, pipe extruders, certification bodies and utility companies worldwide, helping water and gas supplies running smoothly.
We provide durability and performance testing of plastic pipes and pipelines for certification and approval purposes. Our testing services are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
As your Testing Partner, we offer fixed price agreements for long-term projects such as lifetime assessment and condition monitoring of your polymer pipe assets. 
Advisory Services, Consulting and R&D
Our experts provide advisory services in plastic pipes testing, with deep technical expertise in standardization, approvals, test program optimization and interpretation of test results based on solid experience.
We also offer applied testing focusing on new applications and assessment of new and improved properties of plastic piping materials.
https://www.excelplas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Excelplas-A4-Brochure-4pp-Plastic-Pipe-Testing-NTs.pdf

ASTM Publishes New Standard (ASTM F3525) for Cross-Linked Polyethylene (CX-PE) Pipe Fittings (PEX Pipe Fittings)
https://www.plasticstoday.com/extrusion-pipe-profile/new-astm-standard-cx-pe-pipe-fittings

RPC Pipe Systems Appoint Reece Civil and Viadux as Distributors of Australian Made Flowtite® GRP pipe up to DN1200
https://www.rpctechnologies.com/reece-civil-viadux-10th-november-2021/

CPVC Pipes Overcomes Host of Performance Limitations and Shortcomings of Green PP-R Piping
https://www.flowguard.com/en-in/advantages/pipe-ppr-vs-pipe-cpvc/

Georg Fischer Piping Seeking Head of Strategy and M&A
https:/www.jobs.ch/en/vacancies/detail/10824244/

QLD’s Plumbing Industry Trials Zero Waste Program for Plastic Pipes
https://roadsonline.com.au/qlds-plumbing-industry-trials-zero-waste-program/

PVC Pipe Eliminated from City’s Water Main Due to History of Failures
https://www.uspipe.com/prescott-az-says-no-more-to-pvc-pipe/

A Quick Guide to HDPE Pipe Certification
https://www.advancedpiping.com.au/blog/quick-guide-hdpe-pipe-certification/

Effect of Polyethylene Pipe Type and Emitters Discharge on Performance Criteria of Surface Drip Irrigation System
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/904/1/012013/pdf

‘Challenges from Pipe Installation to Rehabilitation’ – Dr Haitao Lan of University of Cambridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ikvkv8YoF8

NEW PATENTS

New Technique Patented for Inspecting HDPE Pipe Butt Fusion Welds
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/11143631.pdf

Nupi Industries Italy Patent New Electrofusion Fitting for High Diameter Plastic Pipes
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/11131414.pdf

HDPE PIPES

Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Recycled and Virgin HDPE Corrugated Pipes Used in Road Drainage Systems
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-978155/v1/514c7654-65d1-4ce2-9863-8f56f615d7c3.pdf?c=1636121401

Finding The Right Pipe Test for Polyethylene with Raised Resistance to Slow Crack Growth (SCG)
https://www.kiwa.com/4a6140/globalassets/netherlands/kiwa-technology/images/id136-paper-ppxx-plt-and-anpt-ernst-van-der-stok.pdf

PVC PIPES

Estimation of Burst Pressure of PVC Pipe Using Average Shear Stress Yield Criterion
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/10477/pdf

PVC Pipe Eliminated from City’s Water Main Due to History of Failures
https://www.uspipe.com/prescott-az-says-no-more-to-pvc-pipe/

POLYAMIDE PIPES

Performance Evaluation of Polyamide-12 Pipe Serviced in Acid Oil and Gas Environment
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11668-021-01264-x

GRP PIPES

RPC Pipe Systems Appoint Reece Civil and Viadux as Distributors of Australian Made Flowtite® GRP pipe up to DN1200
https://www.rpctechnologies.com/reece-civil-viadux-10th-november-2021/

Long-Term Ring Stiffness of Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Pipes
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mt-2021-0030/pdf

PLASTIC PIPE FAILURE ANALYSIS

Failure Analysis of Plastic Pipes
If you are looking for an expert witness for your case involving plastic pipe failure analysis, then you can’t beat the team at ExcelPlas Consulting.  Our team is setting a new standard for excellence in failure analysis of plastic articles but especially plastic pipe.  For plastic pipe, this includes HDPE, PVC & CPVC pipe as well as other plastic piping systems like Hobas GRP pipe, PP-R Pipe, and spoolable composite pipe.  When a plastic pipeline fails to perform as intended, our team can determine the root cause (chemical failure, oxidative failure, creep failure, overstress failure, fatigue failure, design failure, etc).   We are experts in HDPE water pipe failures, CPVC sprinkler pipe failure, PVC pipe failure analysis and PP-R Oxidation/Degradation investigations.
https://www.excelplas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Excelplas-A4-Brochure-4pp-Plastic-Pipe-Testing-NTs.pdf

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/

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 the early failure of PEX pipes 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 stabilizers present.
  • Scanning Microscopy on the 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

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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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