The european plastic pipes industry - Recycling commitment

Author(s) : Steven Folkman

A recent survey again confirms that PVC pipe has the lowest break rate when compared with break rates of ductile and cast iron, asbestos cement, steel, and concrete pipe. Other results of interest to water utilities and engineers are discussed. During 2017, Utah State University conducted a survey of utilities across...

Author(s) : Ignacio Muñoz

During the last years PVC-O has become a popular product in pipe business due to the huge improvements of mechanical properties of PVC after orientation. At the same time, CPVC has become an important choice for hot water conduits in in-house applications. Molecor has started a research program to evaluate the...

Author(s) : Markus Gall, Reinhold W. Lang, Joerg Fischer, Ansgar Niehoff, Steven Schmidt

Despite recent efforts in promoting the utilization of recycled polymeric materials for more diverse and more advanced applications, there are still significant knowledge gaps with regards to the applicability of certain recyclate types for specific “re-use” purposes. When it comes to pipe applications, for instance,...

Author(s) : G.M. Quesada, K.H. Steinbruck

The benefits of molecularly oriented PVC pipe (PVC-O) are well known and documented. Numerous studies covering improved pipe impact, toughness, hydraulics, and life cycle have been published. There is less information about PVC-O pipe under pipeline hydraulic forces. The objective of this paper is to identify design...

Author(s) : Davidovski Zoran

To get a deeper insight in why plastic pipes systems in some cases are deselected by designers, installers and users, European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) initiated a research including interviews in four pilot countries: Poland, France, Germany and the UK. The first phase was concentrating on...

Author(s) : Joerg Fischer, Patrick R. Bradler, Reinhold W. Lang

In the present paper, a novel test system for conducting fatigue crack growth (FCG) experiments under superimposed mechanical-environmental conditions is presented. FCG experiments were performed on a polypropylene (PP) grade and a short-glass fiber reinforced polyamide 66 (PA-GF) grade as model materials. The...

Author(s) : Joaquín Lahoz Castillo

Irrigation networks in Spain extensively make use of plastic pressure pipes systems. Some recent failures focus the attention on Rapid Crack Propagation phenomena. Larger high-pressure PVC-u pipes are involved in most incidences detected. The level of gelation of those pipes were measured per EN-ISO 1452-2 test...

Author(s) : Richard St-Aubin, Dr. Thomas O’Rourke, Dr. Brad Wham, Blake Berger

Molecularly oriented polyvinyl chloride (PVC-O) pipe has been found to withstand large ground deformation during seismic events without damage. The properties of PVC-O pipe that support this performance have been investigated in a multi-year testing program undertaken at the Geotechnical Lifelines Large Scale Testing...

Author(s) : Dongyu Fang, Mark Yu, Zhang Qingfu

In the present paper we introduced how high modulus polypropylene helps an innovative design of utility tunnel up to 4000mm in diameter. High modulus polypropylene shows high modulus but still maintain reasonable flexibility so that tunnel and surrounding soil could form an integrated system, which means no force is...

Author(s) : Mario Berna, Alessandro Tinarelli

PVC pipes and fittings are currently manufactured using a wide range of stabilizer systems whilst CPVC is currently manufactured using Tin stabilizers. The aim of this paper is to present a new type of heat stabilizer (booster) to be used in combination with Tin stabilizer; surprisingly this product offers synergistic...

Author(s) : Ludo Debever, Peter Sejersen, Carolin Spirinckx

Until today there are various ways of demonstrating the Environmental Performance of products, such as Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Life Cycle Impact Assessments (LCIA), Environmental Performance Declarations (EPDs). The methods to obtain the result, however, can vary from country to country and can be interpreted...

Author(s) : Andreas Frank, Isabelle J. Berger, Mario Messiha, Carl-Gustaf Ek, Norbert Schuler, Jens-Martin Storheil, Erwin Mayrbäurl, Steve Heeley, Frank Krause, Lodewijk Niemöller, Philippe Gabriëls, Yogesh S. Deshmukh, Florian Arbeiter, Thomas Koch, Gerald Pinter

In order to improve the circular economy of polymers in terms of sustainability and reduced carbon footprint, the increased use of recyclates has become a topic of major importance. Due to their long design lifetimes, pipe applications represent an excellent opportunity to create added value to non-virgin polymers. In...

Author(s) : Jie Feng, Michael Petr, Jeff Wenzel, Mark Mirgon, Sam Crabtree, Alan Nakatani

Through tensile tests, simulated orientation, tribology, and finite element analysis, this study explored the effect of temperature, lubrication and applied hydraulic pressure in the PVC orientation process. It was demonstrated that tight control of these parameters is critical in a continuous PVC orientation process...

Author(s) : T. R. Marti

Horizontal Directional Drilling, or HDD, is now a common technique for installation of PVC pipe. This was not always the case. The fused PVC use in HDD has grown from an initial installation of 500’ (150M) in 2004 to installation lengths over 7000’ (2.14 KM) today. Advancements in connection properties taking into...

Author(s) : Dane Tallen

Update on paper given at last Plastics Pipes conference. An update on market trends in PVC stabilizer design, global PVC pipe market development and implications for lubrication package design. PVC is a well-established material used worldwide for different applications such as window profiles, technical profiles,...

Author(s) : Robert LeHunt

Nationally moderated and approved competency training Units and Qualifications have been established in Australia for plastics pipes within an overall Plastics Industry Training Package. Delivery of such Units over a 21 year period has contributed to a greater understanding of various plastics pipes materials,...

Author(s) : C.B. Dandekar

Plastic Corrugated Piping System (PCPS) was introduced in India in 2001, much later than the western world started using it for various applications. It received a mixed response from the Govt. Agencies, but was well accepted by the market, actual users and standardizing institutions. PCPS finds applications in...

Author(s) : André Nijland

Bi-oriented PVC (PVC-O) pipes are increasingly installed on a worldwide basis for drinking water applications. This is due to the outstanding mechanical properties of PVC-O pipes, such as high strength and high ductility. Furthermore bi-oriented PVC pipes are light weight, flexible and have a low carbon footprint and...

Author(s) : René Hermkens, Ernst van der Stok, Johannes de Bruin, Jeroen Weller

The replacement of fossil fuels like natural gas by sustainable gases such as biogas and hydrogen can mitigate global warming. There has been some debate about the impact of sustainable gases on the materials used in the gas grid. An extensive study of the behaviour of PE, PVC, POM and rubber materials was therefore...

Author(s) : Carolin Spirinckx, Peter Sejersen, Zoran Davidovski, Karolien Peeters

For the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) it is important to have an insight into the environmental aspects during the life-span of plastic pipe systems all the way from the cradle to the grave. The result of the studies allows TEPPFA and its member companies to distinct (for the pipe systems...