Karin Jacobson
Papers # 2014 Chicago
This paper discusses the mechanisms responsible for the degradation of polyolefin pipes in chlorine dioxide. Studies of random co-polymer polypropylene, PP-R pipes that have been exposed in service connected to ClO2 disinfection systems are compared to data generated at accelerated laboratory conditions. The test method of ASTM F2023 with chlorine dioxide has been used to generate the accelerated chlorine oxidative data. Post exposure investigations used in this study focus on failure mechanism, morphology studies, additive degradation and polymer degradation. Findings are aimed to give guidance of the ASTM F2023 method’s suitability for ClO2 studies and include also a discussion of accelerated testing using high concentration of chlorine as acceleration parameter versus accelerated testing with relatively low concentrations, similar to those find in service, and high temperature.
