Nondestructive Ultrasonic Imaging Improves Pipeline Joint Coating Testing
Posted: 2026-1-5
Source:
PGJonline.com
Long-distance oil and gas pipelines are commonly applied with three-layer polyethylene (3PE) anti-corrosion coatings, and the matching joint coating material is radiation-crosslinked polyethylene heat-shrinkable tape, which consists of a double-layer material of a substrate and a hot-melt adhesive layer.1 Polyethylene joint coating is a key measure to ensure the long-term safe and reliable service of oil and gas pipelines, and its bonding quality is directly related to the corrosion protection effect of the pipelines.2,3 When the bonding strength of the pipeline joint coating is insufficient, unbonded or weakly bonded areas may appear. At this time, if the outer surface of the pipeline is scratched or damaged under stress, it is likely to cause pipe perforation or large-area thinning, ultimately leading to serious pipeline leakage accidents.4,5,6
At present, the peel strength of anti-corrosion coating specified in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 21809-3 is generally used as an evaluation index for the bonding quality of pipeline joint coatings.7 However, this peel strength testing method has significant limitations, as it causes irreversible damage to the joint coating in the tested area, creating potential high-risk points for future pipeline failures.
Read the full article at PGJonline.com.
