EPL Composite Solutions, a subsidiary of Haydale, announced the development of an in-house testing facility to measure and demonstrate the durability of a new generation of graphene enhanced composite gas pipes and pipeline materials. The testing facility is meant to help the company accelerate the long term testing of thermoplastic composite pipes, as well as enabling it to fast track new materials such as graphene enhanced thermoplastics into the composite pipelines.
EPL has been working closely with the oil and gas industry on the development of a process to manufacture spoolable, high pressure, fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite pipes on a continuous basis. This product is planned to become a replacement for corrosion resistant steel pipes currently in widespread use. EPL is also working closely with Haydale to incorporate graphene into the thermoplastic composite pipes in order to enhance the oil and gas permeation resistance of these materials as well as increasing the materials' long term durability.