PE100+ Association leads industry initiative to make the ANPT test more sustainable

The PE100+ Association has taken the lead to find an alternative, safer and more sustainable detergent for use in the ANPT test method.  

The ANPT (Accelerated Notched Pipe Test), according to ISO 13479, has been using the detergent Nonylphenol-ethoxylate (frequently referred to under tradename Arkopal N-100) to reduce the PE100-RC notched pipe test time to failure from one year to only 300 hours. This test condition is included in the upcoming revisions to the EN and ISO polyethylene pressure pipe standards for the testing of PE100-RC materials and pipes. Due to the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) regulations, the producers decided to stop production of the detergent in 2020 for sustainability reasons and restrictions on its production.  

The PE100+ Association has taken the lead to find an alternative, safer and more sustainable detergent for this ANPT test method to support the standardization groups CEN TC 155 WG12 and the ISO TC 138 SC4 WG3 and SC2 WG4. This includes:

• During 2021 several meetings were organized with resin manufacturers, pipe and fitting producers, utilities, test laboratories to collect experience with other detergents and agree on the way forward;
• In 2022 the testing of pipes produced using commercially available PE100-RC materials will take place at one laboratory with the detergent Lauramine oxide (tradename Dehyton PL) to test PE100-RC materials of different colours;
• Later in 2022 the PE100+ Association will initiate a ‘round robin’ testing programme, inviting different laboratories to perform the ANPT tests with Lauramine oxide as an alternative detergent on 2 types of pipes which are notched by one company according to ISO 13479; and    
• During the testing programme the association has organized further meetings to keep the PE100 resin and pipe community informed on its progress and regularly updated the EN and ISO committees We are confident that by working together, our industry can quickly implement an approved, robust and more sustainable ANPT test.  

In case of questions or remarks please contact the chairman of the technical committee of the PE 100+ Association: rainer.kloth@SABIC.com.