Field Joints and Specials

Field joints in pipelines pose challenges due to material incompatibility. Allter Africa’s visco-elastic Polyisobutene systems provide self-healing membranes and swellable wet applications. Our products ensure 100% seal integrity, protecting against corrosion and disbondment. From low to high soil stress, we offer tailored solutions for field joints, valves, flanges, and more. 

Field Joints and Specials - Self-healing membranes & swellable wet applied ViscoRite systems.

People often view field joints as a pipeline’s weak point due to incompatibility challenges. These challenges arise between the linepipe, its coating, and the field joint material used. Allter Africa addresses this issue by ensuring our product adheres to almost all surfaces. These surfaces include PE, PP, PVC, Bitumen Fibreglass, FBE, Polyurethane, and concrete. Our product provides a 100% seal from the steel surface of the field joint to the linepipe coating. This ensures no disbondment or under-creep can occur.

When you apply our product, it prevents cathodic disbondment. Therefore, it effectively protects the pipeline against stray current or other electrical activity for the pipeline’s lifetime.

We offer various mechanical systems, each designed to suit the external conditions that the pipeline will face. Different systems are required for areas of low soil stress compared to areas of high soil stress. Specific systems are needed for pipelines running under road crossings or in submerged conditions. Regardless of the conditions or environment, our product provides 100% effective corrosion protection for the pipeline’s life.

For a pipeline to be corrosion-free, it needs a totally protected system. We offer this total protection when our products protect both the field joints and the specials.

Our product can seal and protect valves, flanges, valve chambers, couplings, tees, and bends from the external environment.

Fieldjoints for Oil, Gas, Water, Effluent, Chemical Pipelines

Corrosion significantly impacts the integrity of pipelines carrying oil, gas, water, effluent, and chemicals. The role of soil stress is crucial in this process. At low to moderate soil stress, the corrosion rate is relatively slow due to less physical strain. However, the corrosion rate accelerates as soil stress increases from moderate to high.

Soil composition, moisture content, temperature, and microbial activity influence soil stress levels. For instance, clayey soils with high moisture content exert higher stress on pipelines than sandy soils. Extreme temperatures and corrosive microbes can also exacerbate soil stress and corrosion.

High soil stress can lead to stress corrosion cracks in field joints. These cracks compromise the structural integrity of the pipeline and can lead to leaks or even catastrophic failures. Therefore, monitoring and managing soil stress levels are crucial to mitigate corrosion effects.

Allter Africa’s visco-elastic Polyisobutene offers a solution to these challenges. This material provides excellent corrosion protection for field joints under various soil stress conditions. Its visco-elastic properties allow it to conform to the pipeline surface, providing a robust seal. This seal resists soil stress and prevents corrosive elements from reaching the pipeline material.

Furthermore, Polyisobutene is resistant to chemical attack. This makes it an ideal choice for protecting field joints in chemical pipelines. Therefore, Allter Africa’s visco-elastic Polyisobutene can significantly enhance the lifespan and reliability of pipelines operating under different soil stress conditions.

Risers

Risers, essential for transporting substances like oil, gas, water, effluent, and chemicals, degrade significantly due to corrosion. This issue is prevalent in both inland and offshore pipelines. Corrosion is an electrochemical reaction, worsened by temperature, salinity, and exposure duration. The splash zone suffers the most, where seawater contact erodes the steel surface’s protective layer.

Allter Africa’s visco-elastic Polyisobutene offers a potential solution. This eco-friendly substance exhibits both viscous and elastic properties when deformed. It resists flow like a viscous fluid and recovers like an elastic solid. These traits make it highly durable and adaptable. Additionally, Polyisobutene resists oxidation, thermal degradation, and most chemicals. This resistance ensures long-term performance.

Its durability and unique properties make it ideal for various applications. These include sealants, adhesives, lubricants, and damping materials. Hence, many industries prefer visco-elastic Polyisobutene.

Underground and Above Ground Flanges

Let’s explore the world of flanges, corrosion, and the remarkable properties of visco-elastic Polyisobutene (PIB).

Flanges, crucial connectors in pipelines, come in two types: underground and above-ground. Underground flanges, buried beneath soil, face gradual deterioration due to moisture and soil acidity. Above-ground flanges, exposed to weather conditions, can weaken from corrosion.

Enter PIB. This material offers corrosion protection. Applied as a sealant, it forms a barrier, preventing moisture and corrosive substances from reaching the metal substrate. PIB ensures a lifetime seal, safeguarding against localized corrosion.

PIB also excels in weather resistance. For above-ground flanges, it shields against rain, humidity, and temperature variations. No more metal exposure!

Moreover, PIB boasts chemical resistance. It withstands acids, bases, solvents, and oils, preventing chemical penetration. Flanges remain intact.

Flexibility matters too. PIB adapts to dynamic forces, preventing microcracks. Its self-healing properties ensure continuous protection.

In summary, visco-elastic Polyisobutene (PIB) is a superhero for flanges—whether hidden underground or exposed above ground. It keeps them corrosion-free, resilient, and ready to face fluid transportation challenges.

For more information, explore products from Allter Africa, where PIB is applied for pipeline coatings and infrastructure protection.

Valves

• Visco-elastic Polyisobutene Putty or  Paste
• Allter ViscoRite 
• Outerwrap PVC