Okolie Obinna, Faisal Nadimul Haque, Jamieson Harvey, Mukherji Arindam, Njuguna James
School of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, UK.
Subsea 7, East Campus, Prospect Road, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, Aberdeenshire AB32 6FE, UK.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 Apr 19;17(8):1107. doi: 10.3390/polym17081107.
Thermoplastic composite pipes (TCP) consist of three distinct layers-liner, reinforcement, and coating-offering superior advantages over traditional industrial pipes, including flexibility, lightweight construction, and corrosion resistance. This study systematically characterises the thermal properties of TCP layers and their compositions using a multi-method approach. Thermal analysis was conducted through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for isothermal and non-isothermal crystallisation, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal stability, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for material identification. FTIR confirmed polyethylene as the primary component of TCP, with compositional variations across the layers. TGA results indicated that thermal degradation begins at approximately 200 °C, with complete decomposition at 500 °C. DSC analysis revealed a double melting peak, prompting further investigation into its mechanisms. On-isothermal crystallisation kinetics, analysed at cooling rates of 10 °C/min and 50 °C/min, revealed an anisotropic crystalline growth pattern. Although nucleation occurs uniformly, the subsequent three-dimensional crystalline growth is governed more by the degree of supercooling than by the crystallography of the glass fibres. This underscores the importance of precisely controlling the cooling rate during manufacturing to optimise the anisotropic properties of the reinforced layer. This study also demonstrates the value of FTIR, TGA, and DSC techniques in characterising the thermo-physical behaviour of TCP, offering critical insights into thermal expansion, shrinkage phenomena, and overall material stability. Given the limited body of research on this specific TCP formulation, the findings presented here lay a foundation for both quality enhancement and process optimisation. Moreover, the paper offers a distinctive perspective on the dynamic behaviour, thermal expansion, and long-term performance of TCP in demanding oil and gas environments.
热塑性复合管（TCP）由三个不同的层组成——内衬层、增强层和涂层，与传统工业管道相比具有诸多优势，包括柔韧性、轻质结构和耐腐蚀性。本研究采用多种方法系统地表征了TCP各层及其组成的热性能。通过差示扫描量热法（DSC）进行等温及非等温结晶的热分析，通过热重分析（TGA）进行热稳定性分析，通过傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）进行材料鉴定。FTIR证实聚乙烯是TCP的主要成分，各层成分存在差异。TGA结果表明，热降解大约在200℃开始，在500℃时完全分解。DSC分析显示出双熔融峰，促使对其机理进行进一步研究。在10℃/min和50℃/min的冷却速率下分析的等温结晶动力学揭示了一种各向异性的晶体生长模式。尽管成核均匀发生，但随后的三维晶体生长更多地受过冷度而非玻璃纤维晶体学的控制。这突出了在制造过程中精确控制冷却速率以优化增强层各向异性性能的重要性。本研究还证明了FTIR、TGA和DSC技术在表征TCP热物理行为方面的价值，为热膨胀、收缩现象和整体材料稳定性提供了关键见解。鉴于针对这种特定TCP配方的研究有限，此处呈现的研究结果为质量提升和工艺优化奠定了基础。此外，本文还对TCP在苛刻的石油和天然气环境中的动态行为、热膨胀和长期性能提供了独特的视角。
