GRP products are often used in very aggressive or corrosive environments.
Such applications include:
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Fire water systems (fire water (oxygen) can cause corrosion, especially in
partially dry systems. Also the below ground environment can be highly
aggressive.
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Cooling water lines (see fire water systems)
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Demiwater (de-mineralised water is a highly aggressive medium often causing
corrosion)
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Effluent systems
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High-pressure pipelines (often containing aggressive media such as a
combination salt water and oil, or brine). The smooth inner surface of GRP
also results in lower friction and higher flow efficiency
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Pipe collars (corrosive soil, non conductive in railway areas where stray
current is a problem)
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Exhaust lines and chimneys (corrosive medium, light weight)
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Handling and storage of almost all aggressive chemicals.
The selection of suitable resin plays an important role for imparting
durability of the composites when exposed to aqueous fluids or gasses. DSM is
happy to assist in this complicated matter; our specialists are at your
service.
GRP composites have found a wide array of applications in industrial
environments over the last four decades. Most progress has been made in the
areas of composite pipe work, storage tanks and fluid handling equipment. The
high cost of replacing steel (alloys) and the increased service life in new
constructions, favour the use of composites that withstand extreme conditions.
For example, in the offshore oil and gas industry, the cost of manufacturing
and erecting oilrigs could be reduced significantly if heavy metal pipelines
were replaced by lighter composite products. GRP leads to lower life cycle
costs, reduced problems with corrosion and a reduction in structural support
sizes and material handling problems during construction. The resistance of
GRP to corrosion helps to improve reliability and safety. GRP pipes can be
used for fire water systems, seawater cooling, draining systems, (chemical)
process lines, fuel lines, sewerage systems and much more. The cost advantages
of GRP plant is increased even more when they substitute expensive corrosion
resistant alloys such as copper-nickel alloys, duplex / super duplex stainless
steel, and titanium.
