Sorption of contaminants into thermoplastic pipes: A Critical Review

Abstract

Abstract For several decades, polymeric materials are increasingly used in various fields, particularly in the distribution of drinking water thanks to the various advantages represented by polymers such as light weight, low cost, easier to install and without any problem of corrosion compared to metal pipes. One of the main concerns of researchers is the sorption of the constituents of drinking water through the pipe. Many studies have found that the mass transfer of a liquid into the polymer has consequences such as the change of crystallinity, the yellowing of the polymer, decrease of mechanical resistance and the swelling of the polymer. The aim of this study is to carry out a review about the sorption of the constituents of liquid transported into the material in order to summarize what is already done in this field. We started with the theoretical study of sorption then the experimental one by showing the different methods used to measure the diffusivity of a contaminant towards the polymer then we enumerated the empirical and analytical models developed for predicting diffusivity and solubility coefficients and finally we showed the influence of this transfer on the mechanical characteristics and the morphology of thermoplastic pipes.