Abstract
The field performance of experimental biodegradable drip irrigation thin wall and regular pipes was investigated through three sets of full-scale experiments and in the laboratory. These experimental biodegradable drip irrigation systems were produced through the processing of biodegradable under real soil conditions polymers, Mater-Bi and Bioflex. The mechanical behaviour of the biodegradable thin wall pipes during the irrigation period was more unstable when compared to the corresponding behaviour of the rigid pipes. The tensile strength of the Mater-Bi and Bioflex thin wall pipes remained almost constant during the total exposure time, except from the folding areas. During the first 7–23 days of exposure in the field, the thin wall pipes had already lost more than the 50% of their initial elongation at break value due to degradation. However, their hydraulic performance began to decline only after a period of 100–120 days with the simultaneous formation of the first cracks. Likewise, the majority of the series of biodegradable rigid pipes exhibited a remarkable reduction in their elongation at break values in the transverse direction within the first 2 weeks. Despite the significant drop of the elongation at break, all biodegradable rigid pipes generally retained their tensile strength as well as a satisfactory hydraulic performance during almost the whole duration of their exposure. A few premature leakages in some points adjoining the drippers were observed after 8–10 weeks of exposure.
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Acknowledgments
The project was funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greece. Thanks are due to N. Bacharidis (Eurodrip’s Project Manager for the biodegradable pipe project) and C. Bolinis (Production Manager) for the production of the pipes at the industrial facilities of Eurodrip, the technical teams of Novamont S.A and, FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, for the technical support and G.Makris for supervising the experiments in the experimental field in Athens.
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Briassoulis, D., Babou, E. & Hiskakis, M. Degradation Behaviour and Field Performance of Experimental Biodegradable Drip Irrigation Systems. J Polym Environ 19, 341–361 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-011-0288-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-011-0288-2