Graphite Doped PAN Nanofiber Mats Infused Polymer Composite Pipeliners: Experimental Diffusion Characterization
The internal corrosion in the pipelines is the most critical factor of any type of pipeline failure. The growing trend to mitigate the internal corrosion in the pipelines using Nanofiber Polymer Composite Liners (NPCL) was investigated in this study. Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Polymer Composite Liners (PAN NPCL) and Graphite doped PAN Nanofiber Polymer Composite Liners (Graphite doped PAN NPCL) were fabricated and their absorption characteristics were investigated. PAN Nanofiber and Graphite doped PAN Nanofiber mats were used as an additional reinforcement layer in the Polymer Composite Liners. Three different volume fractions of PAN solution (0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) were used to produce the PAN Nanofiber mats. Similarly, three different volume fractions of Graphite (0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2%) were doped into the PAN solution volume fraction (0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) which was used to produce the Graphite doped PAN Nanofiber mats. The electrospinning technique was used to produce the PAN Nanofiber and Graphite doped PAN Nanofiber mats. The polymer Composite Liners were produced by layering the electrospun PAN Nanofiber and Graphite doped PAN Nanofiber mats in Bisphenol A epoxy polymer matrix. The volume fractions of PAN NPCL (P0.1% and P0.5%) and Graphite doped PAN NPCL (G0.05%P0.1% and G0.2%P0.5%) were selected to test the absorption characteristics. For the absorption analysis test, three different mediums (Water at 23 °C, Water at 50 °C, and Heavy Oil) were used as per the ASTM D5229 standard to test the Polymer Composite Liners. The PAN NPCL and Graphite doped PAN NPCL specimens were tested in the three mediums for absorption analysis. The specimens were kept in the solution until they reached the saturation point in terms of weight. In total, 336 hours were in on average used for all the specimens, as per ASTM D5229 standard, and the absorption characteristics were reported. Results showed that the highest volume fraction of PAN and Graphite doped PAN NPCL specimens had a minimum absorption percentage when compared with the lowest volume fraction of PAN and Graphite doped PAN NPCL specimens. The obtained results were compared and validated with the morphological characteristics and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis.
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Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina