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Mechanical properties and surface roughness assessment of outer and inner HDPE pipe layers after exposure to toluene methanol mixture

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Abstract

Many investigations have been devoted to mechanical resistance and other general properties of plastic pipes as required by technical standards. However, very few research studies have been involved with internal and external pipe surface qualities in relation to aggressive chemical agents. The aim of this work is to present the effects of an equimolar toluene methanol (TM) mixture on mechanical and morphological properties of HDPE-100 pipe surfaces (or layers). Using optimum machining conditions, four different specimen geometries, representative of either surfaces or layers, are manufactured and subsequently aged in TM environment. Laboratory sorption experiments for inner (IL) and outer (OL) pipe layers show that equilibrium is attained within 4 days. Stress-strain tests indicate that outer and inner pipe envelopes, once separated, behave as if they were dissimilar pipes. Indeed, for the as-received pipe IL, the properties E, σy, σf, and εf exceeded those of the OL by 50%, 11%, 9%, and 6%, respectively. After 7-day exposure to TM mixture, the same trend is conserved with somewhat lower values. Most of filament properties are also in favor of the IL after 1290 days in TM mixture. It is found that E dropped significantly compared to the as-received material (OL = − 35% and IL = − 43%) while εf for OL is cut by almost two thirds. The outer surface is rougher than the inner one due to interaction with the extrusion die. As a result, the TM mixture generally causes PE swelling and narrows the gap between roughness (Rz) values with a more pronounced effect for the external surface. The value of Rz dropped from 7.15 to 2.80 μm after 1290 days, whereas the internal surface showed a slight increase up to 7%. This is explained by the particularities of the extrusion process which cools the external surface rapidly giving rise to different morphologies in pipe layers associated to the plasticizing effect of the solvent. Structural changes imparted by extrusion and TM ageing are characterized via crystallinity and oxidation induction time (OIT). It is concluded that after 1290 days, crystallinity and OIT decreased for IL and OL because of structure degradation such as anti-oxidant depletion and pigment loss. Interestingly, it is concluded that crystallinity evolution coincides with OIT progression according to lifetime and to position crosswise pipe wall.

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Acknowledgements

Some results of this research work have been conducted as a part of the PNR-DGRSDT Project (Algerian Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry) entitled: “A contribution to the study of the remaining life of polyethylene natural gas distribution networks: estimation of maintainability and reliability index.” The authors are grateful to companies SONELGAZ, STMP CHIALI and TUBOGAZ for productive discussions and to many colleagues from LR3MI and CRTI, for characterization assistance, especially Pr. M.A. Yallese and Dr. S. Belhadi of LMS, Guelma University (Algeria).

Greek letters

σy Yield stress (MPa); σf Failure stress (MPa); εf Failure strain (%); εy Yield strain (%); χc Crystallinity (%)

Funding

The financial support by the CNEPRU Project (MESRS), Code 11N01UN23012014122: “Thermomechanical and environmental study of butt fusion weld in high density polyethylene pipes” is highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanics of Materials and Plant Maintenance Research Laboratory (LR3MI), Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, P.O. Box 12, Annaba, 23052, Algeria

    Wafia Ghabeche

  2. Advanced Materials, Research Center in Industrial Technologies (CRTI), P.O. Box 64, Chéraga, Algiers, 16014, Algeria

    Wafia Ghabeche

  3. Mechanics of Materials and Plant Maintenance Research Laboratory (LR3MI), Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Badji Mokhtar University, P.O. Box 12, Annaba, 23052, Algeria

    Kamel Chaoui & Nassereddine Zeghib

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  1. Wafia Ghabeche
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Correspondence to Kamel Chaoui.

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Ghabeche, W., Chaoui, K. & Zeghib, N. Mechanical properties and surface roughness assessment of outer and inner HDPE pipe layers after exposure to toluene methanol mixture. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 103, 2207–2225 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-019-03651-z

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