MATERIALS | TECHNOLOGY HTPs New patents for high-impact pipe
Sabic has patented a new polyethyl- ene material – which it says will be suitable for making pipes with high impact resistance. The ‘multi-modal’ ethylene co-poly-
mer material has a balance of impact properties, processability, strain hardening and slow crack growth resistance, says the company – claim- ing that such a combination is uncommon. The pipe will be able to be installed using techniques such as trenchless
POLYPROPYLENE
Wavin gets multilayer
pipe patent Wavin has patented a method to create a multi-layer pipe that uses two types of polyethylene (PE) – and a nanoclay reinforcement. One layer is a raised
temperature PE (PE-RT); an ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE) is then formed on top – after which another PE-RT is added. The structure will
include “at least” one bonding layer, says the patent document. “At least one of the layers comprises a nanoclay material for reducing gas transport through the layers,” it said. Wavin expects the pipe to combine an oxygen barrier with good flexibil- ity and strength, with a nanoclay loading of at least 0.5 wt.%. �
www.wavin.com
www.pipeandprofile.com
installation, says Sabic. “With regard to processability, there is a demand for polyethylene compo- sitions with relatively low viscosity so that it can be extruded at lower temperature and/or lower energy input,” it added. According to the patent, the composition will have a ‘complex viscosity’ – and a melt flow rate ratio of 30-37.
In a separate patent, the company describes a pipe for transportation of
POLYPROPYLENE
PP pipe used in ice rink expansion project
Aquatherm Blue polypro- pylene pipe has been used to expand an ice rink in the Netherlands. The IJsbaan Haarlem multifunctional ice rink measures 110 x 30 metres. The hall can be subdivid- ed, allowing various activities to take place simultaneously. Underlying this is a new cooling system that relies on an Aquatherm Blue piping system. “Aquatherm‘s extensive
BIM database helped us to model the entire plant,” said Bram van der Ree, project manager at installer Riho Climate Systems. “Every line and detail was thought through in advance, ensuring safety and oversight on the construction site.” The rink was planned
digitally, from the concrete channels for the pipes to the connections to the
chlorinated water. The pipe relies mainly on the use of biaxial orientation – which was found to be resistant to chlorinated disinfectants – but this could be combined with polymer composition (largely polyethylene), crosslinking and selected additives if needed, according to the patent document. The pipe is likely to be based on bimodal HDPE made via a low-slurry process, said Sabic. �
www.sabic.com
prefabricated distributors. Because of this, on-site implementation was quick and error-free. A total of 45,000m of
Aquatherm Blue were laid across 700 sections. The pipelines were welded, secured and tested using special tools. They were installed on steel plates, in two layers with insulation and foil between to com- pensate for expansion and contraction. Depending on the pipe diameter, both socket and butt welds were
used. This construction provides a durable founda- tion for the ice floor. A key feature of the system was the main distributor. With diameters up to 200mm and a total weight of over 2t, the manifold was pre-assem- bled at Aquatherm’s headquarters, ready for direct installation. Pipe bends, which connect the supply and return lines, were also partly prefabri- cated by Riho. �
www.aquatherm.de
Spring 2026 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 29
IMAGE: AQUATHERM
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