Haydale Graphene Industries plc (AIM: HAYD), the Group focused on enabling technology for the commercialisation of graphene and other nano materials, has told DirectorsTalk that its subsidiary Haydale Composite Solutions Ltd has completed the installation of a composite pipe testing facility to assist in the development and approval of graphene-enhanced polymer materials for oil and gas pipelines.
As announced in December 2014, HCS have been very active in the design, development, testing and certification of reinforced thermoplastic and thermosetting composite pipes for the oil and gas industry and the Facility has been supported by a £261,000 Regional Growth Fund grant through the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, with the support of Leicester City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
The Facility, located at HCS in Loughborough, consists of eight independently controlled tanks which can perform short and long term pressure testing of composite pipes up to 500bar at temperatures up to 80˚C. The Facility is very versatile and can conduct short term burst pressure tests, determine long term hydrostatic pressure rating as well as performing dynamic, fatigue and cyclic testing of composite pipes to a wide range of international standards including API 15S, ISO 14692 and ASTM D2992.
Nigel Finney, HCS Commercial Director said: “Successful commissioning of this facility is a major step towards delivering our new range of thermoplastic pipes. The generation of long term (10,000 hours) test data is vital in obtaining approval for the use of new materials in oil and gas pipeline systems. This facility enables us to simultaneously test a range of materials and designs, thereby enabling us to quickly optimise such products before performing full 10,000-hour hydrostatic test certification.”
Gerry Boyce, Managing Director of HCS added: “We see a wide range of benefits in utilising graphene enhanced polymers for oil and gas pipeline systems, including improved strength, stiffness and toughness, increased permeation resistance and enhanced fatigue performance. We can quantify these benefits through the use of this test facility which will lead to potential customers having access to graphene-enhanced composite pipelines with improved performance and lower cost. We are therefore optimistic about generating sales of our HDPlas® functionalised graphene polymers into the oil and gas pipeline industry.”
