Next frontierin PE100 product design : a structure - Properties approach [PE]

Since its introduction in the fifties, HDPE pressure pipes showed a rapid growth and successful track record in the industry. Different generations of polyethylene products were developed throughout the time to meet increasingly high mechanical performance requirements from pipe industry, end-users and most recent demand for sustainable solutions. While present generation of PE100 materials delivers excellent combination of high resistance to creep, rapid crack propagation resistance as well as slow crack growth, market requirements continue to fuel product development activities. This resulted in the new and latest PE100-RC material generation (i.e INEOS Eltex SUPERSTRESS) exhibiting enhanced environmental stress crack resistance, consistent with trendy new pipe installations techniques which besides obvious economical advantages of easy-to-lay techniques reduce the environmental impact compare to conventional techniques. Development activities resulted also in PE100 materials with high resistance to sagging during pipe extrusion for production of increasingly large diameter pipes without rate penalty. This paper outlines advances reached in Polyethylene structure-properties relationships that supported the development of these new product generations. The information presented shows extensive research work over polyethylene structure property relationship conducted by INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe till the latest material generation (PE100-RC i.e Eltex SUPERSTRESS) and provides the key building blocks to the development of a universal PE100 material. Latest material generation namely Eltex SUPERSTRESS with outstanding environmental stress cracking resistance shows high use potential for instance in the more demanding installation techniques and lifts the usual material property balance to unprecedented levels. Environmental benefits of using Eltex SUPERSTRESS materials in non-conventional techniques will be highlighted as a possible answer to the current European market trend for more environmental friendly solutions in pipe systems.