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Polypropylene Pipe: An Evolving Market

 

Papers

Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2016 Berlin

Steve Sandstrum, Stefan Dreckoetter, Zak Schultz

This paper provides a historical overview of the development of polypropylene (PP) for piping applications. The discussion includes a historical review of each step in the evolutionary trend for PP piping materials over the last 40 years and culminates with a focus on the most recent development in PP piping technology; PP-RCT. The paper then concludes with four case study installations of PP-RCT piping in North America. 

Since its introduction some forty years ago, interest in the use of polypropylene (PP) for piping applications has continued to grow. As the market opportunities for PP pipe continue to expand, so too have the performance capabilities of PP pipe products and the compounds from which they are produced.

This discussion will provide a basic review of the performance capabilities of PP for piping applications. Inherent to this will be an examination of the evolution of PP for the pipe markets over the past 40 years. The historic progression from polypropylene homopolymer (PP-H) to polypropylene block copolymer (PP-B) to polypropylene random copolymers (PP-R) with a categorized required strengths (CRSθ,t) of CRS158°F,50years =457psi (CRS70°C, 50 years= 3,15MPa), and, more recently, to polypropylene random copolymers with modified crystallinity (PP-RCT) and CRS values of CRS158°F,50years= 725psi (CRS70°C, 50 years=5MPa) will be reviewed. This historic progression of PP pipe will be summarized along with the incremental improvements in performance that are associated with each step in the development of PP for piping applications.

This discussion will also provide a brief overview of international standards initiatives that are currently underway within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ASTM International (ASTM) to support the continued growth and expansion of PP pipe applications. Finally, this presentation will culminate with a detailed review of PP-RCT, one of the most recent advancements in PP compounds, and four case studies involving the use of PP-RCT pipe and fittings in industrial applications within the United States. 

Related keywords : Polypropylene, Pipe, PP, PP-RCT.
Please note that the whole article content is available on PPCA website only :

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