Test facility for graphene applications

An in-house testing facility to measure and demonstrate the durability of graphene enhanced composite gas pipes and pipeline materials has been developed by EPL Composite Solutions (EPL).

Over the last 10 years EPL has been working with the oil and gas industry on the development of a process to manufacture spoolable, high pressure, fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite pipes on a continuous basis. This product aims to replace corrosion resistant steel pipes currently in world-wide use.

EPL is also working with its parent company, Haydale, to incorporate graphene into the pipes in order to enhance the oil and gas permeation resistance as well as increasing the materials long term durability performance.

Gerry Boyce, managing director at EPL said: "The setting up of a pipeline test facility at EPL will help us accelerate the long term testing of thermoplastic composite pipes as well as enabling us to fast track new materials such as graphene enhanced thermoplastics into the composite pipelines."