LATEP will carry out tests to validate new ultra-resistant pipes

Placement of test specimen prior to the 'Crack Round Bar Test'

Placement of the test tube prior to the 'Crack Round Bar Test' Placement of the specimen prior to the Crack Round Bar Test.

The URJC and the CEIS company have signed an agreement for the investigation and evaluation of the new PE100RC pipes (Crack-resistant). These materials, used for the transport of water and natural gas, are the highest step in terms of quality and performance of the polyethylene pipes commonly used for this application.

Writing / Irene Vega

The Polymer Technology Laboratory (LATE), belonging to the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group (GIQA) of the Rey Juan Carlos University, has signed an important collaboration agreement with the company CEIS for the investigation and evaluation of new PE100RC pipes (Crack-resistant). The novelty of these pipes is that they guarantee a useful life of more than 100 years after they have been put into service, representing a significant leap with respect to the PE100 grades used up to now, which had a useful life of 50 years.

The new revisions of the UNE-EN 1555 series of standards “Plastic material piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels. Polyethylene (PE)” and “UNE-EN 12201 Piping systems in plastic materials for conduction of water and sanitation with pressure. Polyethylene (PE)” contemplate the inclusion of PE100RC, a material that is ultra-resistant to the slow propagation of cracks, which is the main mechanism of long-term failure of these materials.

Among the new tests proposed by the standard, there are three that must be made directly on the resin: the Strain Hardening Test (ISO 18488.), The Crack Round Bar Test (ISO 18489.) And the Accelerated Full Notch Creep Test (ISO 16770.). Currently in Spain and in its surrounding countries there is no other laboratory capable of carrying out this type of determination, which makes LATEP an international reference laboratory. To achieve this achievement, the impetus received from the Rey Juan Carlos University through the Infrastructure Plan approved for 2021, which involved the incorporation of two teams into LATEP to carry out the Strain Hardening and the Crack Round Bar Test. In addition, the collaboration established with CEIS will allow the fourth test proposed by the standard to be carried out, this time directly on the pipe, which is the Accelerated Notch Pipe Test, based on the norm ISO / DIS 13479. With this agreement, LATEP adds a new project with companies, whose list of collaborations includes both national and international entities.

International projection of LATEP

In addition, for a few years LATEP has been an active member of the WG12 working group belonging to the European committee for standardization ISO CEN/TC 155 Pressure systems of polyolefin material for gas supply, water supply and drainage and sewerage. "The collaboration initiated with CEIS and the synergy that it will give rise to is an important milestone for LATEP that will allow it to increase its international projection, as well as its line of research on high-density polyethylene for pipe applications", highlights Carlos Domínguez, representative of the URJC in this group and director of LATEP. This laboratory began to develop in this line in 2006 and since then it has been directed by Professor Rafael García Muñoz, professor belonging to the Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology of the URJC.