Electrofusion welding and reinforced thermoplastic pipes – A review
Maciej P Gierulski, Rachel Tomlinson, Mike Troughton
Abstract
Oil and gas operators have been looking for a more reliable and cost-effective material for their pipelines to substitute steel in pipes and connectors. Reinforced thermoplastic pipes are a popular choice for this purpose, but they are still mainly using steel connectors, which have limited lifetimes due to corrosion. For this reason, efforts are being made to design a non-metallic electrofusion coupler to connect these. This article looks at the current state of the art in electrofusion welding of standard polyethylene pipes and aims to find possibilities of applying this technology to reinforced thermoplastic pipes.
Topics & Concepts
ElectrofusionWeldingMaterials scienceThermoplasticThermoplastic compositesComposite materialPolyethylenePipeline transportMechanical engineeringEngineeringHydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metalsCorrosion Behavior and InhibitionConcrete Corrosion and Durability