November 2022 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 in Real-Time


NEWSMAKERS:  * Aliaxis * Borealis * ExcelPlas * Failure Analysis * Geberit * GRP Pipes * Iplex * McElroy * Microplastics * PEX-Al-PEX * PPN * PP-R Pipe Failures * Reliance Worldwide Corporation * RWC * SKZ * Uponor * ZURN

 BREAKING NEWS

Groups Seek to Banish Plastic Pipes from Infrastructure Projects
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/aDtpHgSJXh4HGnJ

Uponor Pex A Contractor Has to Deal with Floods at Midnight Due to Pipe Failures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5eF_sr78kU

Hawaiian Apartment Owners Sue Uponor Over PEX Pipe Failures
https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_case?case=4149507799374354873&q=uponor&hl=en&as_sdt=2006&as_ylo=2022

Borealis Hit by Shrinking HDPE Margins
Elevated crude and natural gas costs have shrunk the margins of the polyethylene industry
https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2022/11/03/austrias-borealis-will-not-downsize-amid-high-energy-prices-in-europe/

INDUSTRY NEWS

Zurn Pex B Failures & Uponor Pex A Has Failures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M657U-C7_Rc

Reliance Worldwide (RWC) Share Price Plunges More the 50% Year to Date
https://cloud.excelplas.com/s/4iQDvHHJpRX5DdO

Reliance Worldwide (ASX:RWC) Shares Dived after the Australian Plumbing Supply Company Flagged Worsening Financial Operating Conditions Ahead
https://www.tipranks.com/news/why-did-reliance-worldwide-asxrwc-shares-plunge-nearly-17-today

Incheon Airport Selects Geberit HDPE Pipes and Drainage Systems
Almost 6 km of HPE pipes have been installed at the airport.
https://airlinergs.com/incheon-airport-selects-geberit-pluvia-roof-drainage-system-for-enhanced-passenger-safety-and-comfort/

Borealis (Borouge) Patents New Polyethylene Composition for Pipes
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP3088458B2.pdf

German Plastics Center (SKZ) and Fraunhofer IFAM Launch Research Project to Prevent Stress Cracking Failure of Bonded Joints
https://www.jeccomposites.com/news/german-plastics-center-skz-and-fraunhofer-ifam-launch-research-project-to-prevent-stress-cracking-failure-of-bonded-joints/

New Guide to the Structural Design of Buried Plastic Pipes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_NJ_XIseJg

Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of High Modulus Polypropylene for Multilayer Sewage Pipe Applications
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.53314

Investigation of Long-Term Rupture Pressure in PEX-AL-PEX Composite Pipes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308016122001752

Analysis of Failure Modes in Pipe-in-Pipe Repair Systems for Water and Gas Pipelines
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350630722004848

Advanced Techniques for Studying the Quality of HDPE Welds
https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/materials/materials-15-07639/article_deploy/materials-15-07639.pdf?version=1667132837

Aliaxis Acquires Specialist in Intelligent Stormwater Solutions
https://aliaxis.com/aliaxis-acquires-opti-a-specialist-in-intelligent-stormwater-solutions/

Iplex Pipelines Hiring Head of Sales
https://au.linkedin.com/jobs/view/head-of-sales-at-iplex-pipelines-3333582625

GRP PIPES

Repair of Filament Wound Composite GRP Pipes
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/87/1/012055/pdf

Mode I Fatigue of Fibre Reinforced Polymeric Composites Pipes: A Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/21/4558/pdf

The Influence of the Environment for Glass-Reinforced Plastic Composite Material Used for Ground Water Transport Pipes
https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/materials/materials-14-03160/article_deploy/materials-14-03160-v2.pdf?version=1623206189

MICROPLASTICS

Field Measurements Reveal Exposure Risk to Microplastic Ingestion by Filter-Feeding Megafauna
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33334-5

FAILURE ANALYSIS

HDPE PIPE JOINT FAILURE EXPERTS
The failure of electrofusion or butt fusion joints in polyethylene gas pipework can be due to several factors including incorrect alignment, contamination, incorrect temperature or the duration of joint fusion. 
If a joint failure occurs, investigations are important to help identify modifications to procedures or training that can help you minimise the occurrence of future failure. This is where we can help.
We provide a detailed PE joint failure investigation service which typically include:
• Digital inspection of the received sample, including dimension measurements of sizes and ovality
• Segmenting the joint for visual and microscopic investigation
• Elemental analysis of any contamination found in the joint
• Peel decohesion testing
https://www.excelplas.com/contact-us/

Plastic Pipeline Expert Witness
If you require expert witness or legal consulting assistance in pipeline failure analysis, plastic pipeline joining methods, plastic piping welding, or associated technical areas please contact us.
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/

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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