Compatibility of products with plastic piping: filling the information gap 

Selecting the right plastic piping materials for chemical service is critical for maintaining safe and reliable operations. In most cases, compatibility information can be found in manufacturer specifications or publicly available databases. However, some chemical-product combinations fall outside the scope of existing data, leaving operators without a clear answer. 

In a recent project, a client needed to determine whether a specific plastic piping material was resistant to several chemicals. Despite extensive research, no reliable compatibility information was available from either the material supplier or publicly accessible sources. 

To provide a practical and reliable answer, TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium proposed a series of laboratory exposure tests under worst-case conditions. Although the chemicals would only be in contact with the piping material for a limited period of time in normal operation, the test samples were exposed for several days to create a conservative assessment scenario. 

Following exposure, the material was evaluated using multiple assessment methods, including: 

The results from these evaluations were analysed and combined to determine an overall compatibility rating. By combining laboratory testing with extensive materials expertise, TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium was able to provide the client with a clear and reliable assessment of the suitability of the plastic material for the intended application. 

This project demonstrates that when compatibility information is unavailable, targeted exposure testing can provide valuable insights and support informed engineering decisions, helping asset owners reduce uncertainty and minimise operational risks.