Lifetime prediction of a blue PE100 water pipe

Depletion of antioxidants was monitored using OIT testing and initiation of thermo-oxidative degradation was assessed by iodometric detection of hydroperoxides. An empirical model based on the Arrhenius fit of the data was developed to extrapolate the lifetime of the PE100 pipe material at various service temperatures (10-25 °C). Associated activation energies, Ea, were determined and appeared to be in line with the values obtained from experiments carried out at low test temperatures. The combination of pressure testing and chemical analyses proved to be a very powerful tool to extrapolate the lifetime of plastic pipes.