Natural gas permeability in plastics  


Posting by niels van der stappen on April 17, 2008 at 15:22:59.

I am doing an orientation on plastic materials that could be functional as a part for methane (natural gas, CH4) transport in homes. Material will be glass reinforced for strength.

Important parameter is impermeability for natural gas (methane, CH4). Literature seems to favor for example Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT). Information of BP Chemicals suggests Polybutylene Naphthalate (PBN), another polyester with high crystallinity.

Are these indeed suitable materials to perform tests with or are other polymer materials also worth a look?

Are standard permeability data available for permeability of CH4 through polymers?


          follow up posts
    On 04/17/2008 lutz posts: Hi all,

    Concerning gas permeability in polymers for natural gas transport in homes or industrial plants; what's the liquid permeability in polymers, in order to know the liquid permeation of condensed water from the pipe external surface? Does this alter the quality of the natural gas? To what extent?

    Lutz
    [responses: 1]

      On 04/17/2008 niels van der stappen posts: Permeability, especially for water, is highly dependent on the type of polymer used. For a 1 mm thick polymer layer it can vary from something like 0,1 to 1000 gram water over a 1 m2 surface in one day. Be carefull - I'm not sure how reliable these figures are, but it indicates at least that you have to know the type of polymer before you can get a meaningful answer.


      [responses: 0]

    On 04/17/2008 rodney posts: Hello:

    May I ask why one should consider plastic for gas transport in homes, if one could use copper and steel instead? With regard to gas loss by diffusion, for example copper pipes are superior to any plastic. And only for LOW gas flows, the conveyance energy loss caused by pipeline wall and welded joints, friction is for a material like Polyvinylchloride slightly better than steel and copper.

    Rodney
    [responses: 2]



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