Title: High Performance Polyethylene Pipe: Evolution of Standards Development and Identification of Applica
1High Performance Polyethylene Pipe Evolution of
Standards Development and Identification of
Application Opportunities
- SPE International Polyolefins
- 2007 Conference
- February 28, 2007
- White G. Jee INEOS Olefins Polymers USA
2Presentation Objectives
- Examine and provide an update on the compilation
of consensus standards development efforts to
recognize high performance PE materials - Brief analyses on the significance of high
performance PE materials within the North
American standards system and the potential
impact these materials will have
3Presentation Overview
- Background of Standards Development Process to
Recognize High Performance Polyethylene Materials - Thermoplastic Materials Designation Code
- PE 2406, PE 3408, and now PE 4710
- Performance Property Improvements
- Benefits to the Design Engineer and
Owner/End-User - Identification of Application Opportunities
4Reference Papers
- PE 4710 What Does it Really Mean? AGA
Operations Conference (April, 2006) - Material Designation Code for High Performance PE
Materials - SPE ANTEC (May, 2006) - PE 4710 Whats in a Name? International
Plastics Pipes XIII Conference (October, 2006)
5PE4710 Evolution in Pipe Performance
PE4710
PE3408
PE2406
PE1404
6Background on PE 4710 Standards Development
Process
- Education on Differences in ISO and ASTM systems
of stress rating materials - ASTM vs. ISO Methodology for Pressure Design of
PE Piping Material (1995) - What is PE 100? (1999)
- PE 100 vs. PE 3408 Can Someone Please Explain
These? (1999) - Education on different performance aspects of gas
pipe standards ISO 4437 and ASTM D 2513 - PE 100 Performance Plus (1999)
- ISO 9080 and the U.S. Natural Gas Distribution
Industry (2000)
7PE100 vs. PE3408 Determining the Long Term
Strength
8Performance Properties
- The similarities and differences between the two
terms PE100 and PE3408 and the standards by which
they are utilized may be summarized into three
practical aspects - Pressure Capability
- Slow Crack Growth
- Resistance to Rapid Crack Propagation (RCP)
9Background on PE 4710 Standards Development
Process
- Development and/or Update of PPI Technical
Documents - PPI TN-7 Nature of Hydrostatic Stress Rupture
Curves (2005) - PPI TR-9 Recommended Design Factors for Pressure
Applications of Thermoplastic Pipe Materials
(2003) - PPI TN-28 Guide to Differences in Pressure
Ratings PE Water Pipe between ASTM and ISO
Methods (2003)
10Thermoplastic Pipe Material Designation Code
- Set of ciphers and letters for designation of
stress-rated thermoplastic compounds - Code consist of two or three letters to indicate
the thermoplastic resin abbreviation as per ASTM
D 1600 - Followed by four Arabic numerals
- Two to describe short-term properties as
identified in referenced ASTM standard - Two to designate the HDS when tested in water at
73F in units of 100 psi, with any decimals dropped
11Polyethylene Thermoplastic Pipe Material
Designation Code
- PE Polyethylene
- X first digit (density cell class as defined in
ASTM D 3350) - X second digit (slow crack growth cell class as
defined in ASTM D 3350) - XX third and fourth digit (HDS for water at
73F) - Examples PE 2406, PE 3408
12The World of HDPE Pipe Standards
13PE Pipe for Gas Distribution
- Internationally, HDPE gas pipe has maintained an
exceptional service history within the gas
distribution application. - This has led to extensive research and
development of higher performance polymers and
piping products. - The result of this research was the introduction
of a new level of performance in polyethylene
piping which was designated as PE 100 in
accordance with the ISO standards systems
prevalent throughout the world outside of North
America. - As these higher performance piping materials
became more accessible in North America, the need
to compare the similarities and differences
between the ASTM and ISO standards began
14PE Pipe for Gas Distribution
- As the North American polyethylene piping
industry and its end-users became more familiar
with both ASTM and ISO standards and test
methods, it became evident that a pipe paradox
exists and a consensus means was needed to
harmonize or utilize the higher performance
properties of these materials across the two
widely recognized standards systems.
15PE Pipe in Water Distribution
- PE pipes versatility as a flexible, tough
durable product makes it an ideal pipe for the
trenchless technology installation methods. - Water infrastructure needs will continue to grow
as world population increases. - PE pipe in water applications have a major market
share in ISO standard countries while a minor
market share in ASTM standard countries.
16The Pipe Paradox
- The same HDPE pipe material evaluated and used
under two equally recognized standards systems
(ISO and/or ASTM) results in substantially
different pressure ratings with the same end-use. - How can this occur?
- Differences in ISO 9080 and ISO 12162 and ASTM
D2837 - Differences in ISO service coefficient and ASTM
design factor
17Resolving the Paradox
- The PE piping industry through discussions in
various industry association task groups such as
PPI, HSB, and AGA-PMC reached consensus to build
a means of differentiation within the ASTM
standards system. - Differentiation is based on the following three
key findings related to differences that exist
between PE 100 and traditional PE 3408 grades - Higher base resin density
- Higher level of SCG (PENT or notched pipe)
- Greater degree of confidence in the linearity of
the 50-yr extrapolation of stress-rupture curve
18 Integration of High Performance PE Materials in
ASTM Standards
- In order to build a means of differentiation to
recognize high performance PE materials within
the established ASTM system, the following
actions were initiated and have been approved
within the industry - Establish a density cell class differentiation in
ASTM D 3350 - Create a higher slow crack growth (PENT) cell
class in ASTM D 3350 - Establish a technical justification to utilize a
higher design factor
19Revision of Density Cell Classification in ASTM D
3350
- Create a density cell class that would segregate
the density cell class of PE 3408 materials from
PE 100 materials - Transfer previous cell class 4 (gt0.955) to cell
class 5 - Divide the previous cell class 3 (gt0.940 to
0.955) to a range of gt0.940 to 0.947 for cell
class 3 and a range of gt0.947 to 0.955 for cell
class 4 - Revision completed in late 2004 and published in
ASTM D 3350-04
20Revision of Slow Crack Growth Cell in ASTM D 3350
- Establish a 500 hours minimum PENT requirement
for high performance PE materials as cell class 7 - Delete cell classes 1, 2, and 3 which represented
0.1, 1, and 3 hours PENT, respectively. - Delete the statement When the Property 5 (slow
crack growth resistance) value is 4 or 6, a 4
shall be used in the grade designation. - Revision completed in late 2005 and published in
ASTM D 3350-05
212005 ASTM D3350 Cell Classification Revisions
ASTM D3350 Cell Class for Typical PE3408 345464C
ASTM D3350 Cell Class for Typical PE4710 445574C
22Technical Justification for Increased Design
Factor (IDF)
- The HSB approved the use of 0.63 design factor
provided that the following criteria are met - Exceed the 500 hours SCG resistance when tested
according to ASTM F 1473 (PENT) - Attain the 50-year extrapolation requirements
that substantiates the stress-rupture data at
room temperature according to ASTM D 2837 - Provide a lower confidence limit (LCL) of 90 or
higher when tested in accordance to the
requirements of ASTM D 2837 - HSB approved the increased design factor in late
2005 - PPI TR-3 and TR-4 have been updated to define the
criteria for high performance polyethylene and
the use of the higher design factor
23PE Material Designation Code
- PE Polyethylene
- 4 Cell Class 4 in ASTM D 3350
- Natural density of gt0.947 to 0.955 g/cc
- 7 Cell Class 7 in ASTM D 3350
- PENT (SCG) value of 500 hours minimum
- 10 Hydrostatic Design Stress at 73F using an
increased design factor (IDF) of 0.63 for water - Technical Justification for Increased IDF
24Thermoplastic Materials Designation Code of
Previously Designated PE 2406 Materials
- PE 2406
- PE 2708
- Consult PPI TR-4 listings of MDPE materials.
25Thermoplastic Material Designation Code for
Previously Designated PE 3408 Materials
- PE 3408
- PE 3608
- PE 3708
- PE 3710
- PE 4708
- PE 4710
- Consult PPI TR-4 Listings of HDPE Resins
26PE4710 Evolution in Pipe Performance
PE4710
PE3408
PE2406
PE1404
27Additional Standards Development Activities
- Revisions to ASTM D 2513, D 3035, and F 714 to
incorporate PE 4710 and the modified versions
previously designated as PE 2406 and PE 3408 has
been balloted through ASTM F17 subcommittee
D3035 and F714 projects have been completed. - ASTM Committee F17 subcommittee projects to
revise D 3035, D 2447, D 2104, D 2737, and F
2160 are to be balloted in the near future.
28Property Improvements of PE 4710 High Performance
Materials
- Long-term Strength
- Slow Crack Growth
- Rapid Crack Propagation
- Technical Justification and Use of Higher Design
Factor
29Benefits of High Performance PE 4710 Materials
- Improved properties with higher design factor
allows design engineer and owner/end-user the
capability to utilize these materials at higher
pressures within the constraints of the
applications or regulations or potentially
operate at same pressure with slightly lighter
wall thickness
30Identification of Application Opportunities
- Natural Gas Distribution Applications
- Northeast Gas Association Implemented
Pipe/Material Specifications Based Upon High
Performance Pipe and Material Properties - Oil and Gas Gathering Applications
- Western Canada same as above CSA standard for
application being revised for high performance
properties - Water Service Application
- OH, VA, NC selected applications for well
drilling to utilize high performance properties
31Application of PE 4710 For Gas
32Application of PE 4710 For Gas
33Summary
- Initial phase of projects to establish
thermoplastic material designation code of PE
4710 has been completed - ASTM application standards are being revised to
recognize the material designation codes - High performance PE materials are listed in PPI
TR-4 and are available for appropriate end-use
applications
34Acknowledgement
- Special thanks to Tom Walsh, President of Walsh
Consulting Services and Stephen Boros, Technical
Director of the Plastics Pipe Institute for their
contribution and review of this
paper/presentation - Special thanks to Bob Garrison and Luis Rodriguez
of Silver-Line Plastics for well installation
pictures