Lifetime of Pipes
Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 1992 Eindhoven
Rijpkema, Wolters
In the Netherlands about 20,000 km of uPVC (unplasticized PolyVinylChloride) gas pipes are in use. The oldest uPVC pipes have been in operation for over 30 years now. These systems were usually designed for a period of between 30 and 50 years. Probably, however, the actual service life will turn out to be much longer. An extensive research programme at VEGGASINSTITUUT was set up to establish relations between physical-chemical behaviour and mechanical properties of these gas pipes in order to come to an experience-based prediction of the residual service life.
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