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The development of an auto-sealing system using an electrically shrinkable tube under a low-pressure condition

Journal Article · · Materials Performance
OSTI ID:460439
;  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. NKK Corp, Tsu, Mie (Japan)
  2. NKK Corp., Yokohama (Japan)
  3. Nippon Kokan Koji Corp., Yokohama (Japan). Research and Development Dept.
  4. Nitto Denko Corp., Fukaya, Saitama (Japan)
This article describes the development of a system to create high quality, automatic sealing of field joints of polyethylene coated pipelines. The system uses a combination of an electrically heated shrinkable tube and a low-pressure chamber. The self-heating shrinkable tube includes electric heater wires that heat when connected to electricity. A method was developed to eliminate air trapped between the tube and the steel pipe by shrinking the tube under a low-pressure condition. The low-pressure condition was automatic and easily attained by using a vacuum chamber. It was verified that the system produced high quality sealing of the field joints.
OSTI ID:
460439
Journal Information:
Materials Performance, Journal Name: Materials Performance Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 36; ISSN MTPFBI; ISSN 0094-1492
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English