DIRAX: The Ultimate Pipeline Coating for Road Bores and Directional Drilling Applications

 DIRAX: The Ultimate Pipeline Coating for Road Bores and Directional Drilling Applications

Introduction: In the realm of pipeline coatings, one product stands out as a true game-changer: DIRAX. This high-performance fiberglass reinforced sleeve has been specifically designed to provide exceptional corrosion protection for pipes used in directional drilling applications. With its unique three-layer construction and a host of advantageous features, DIRAX emerges as the unrivaled choice for road bores and directional drilling projects.

Advanced Construction and Design: The DIRAX system boasts a three-layer construction, each layer playing a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance and protection. The first layer consists of a solvent-free, two-component liquid epoxy, which forms strong mechanical and chemical bonds to the pipe surface. The second layer comprises a high shear strength copolymer adhesive, further enhancing the bonding capabilities. Finally, the third layer is a thick, fiberglass reinforced, radiation cross-linked polyethylene, providing the sleeve with exceptional durability.

Unmatched Features and Benefits:

1. High Resistance to Shear and Peel Forces: DIRAX exhibits outstanding toughness, making it highly resistant to shear and peel forces induced by soil and thermal movements. This feature ensures the integrity of the pipeline, even under challenging conditions.

2. Exceptional Abrasion and Wear Resistance: The durability of DIRAX is unparalleled, offering abrasion and wear resistance comparable to mill coatings. This ensures that the coating remains intact and undamaged, even during pull-through operations.

3. Monolithic Coating System: DIRAX provides a monolithic coating system, offering seamless protection for girth welds. By eliminating any weak points or vulnerabilities, the coating ensures long-lasting reliability and performance.

4. Enhanced Security with Wear Cone: To provide additional strength and security, DIRAX includes a wear cone that protects the leading edge of the sleeve against pull-through forces. This added layer of protection increases the overall reliability of the pipeline.

5. Fast and Convenient Application: Installing DIRAX is a swift and efficient process. The sleeve is applied directly over wet epoxy, eliminating the need for curing or waiting times. This results in a faster application that saves valuable time without compromising on the quality of the coating.

6. Superior Barrier Protection: DIRAX offers superior cathodic disbondment and hot water immersion resistance, acting as an optimal barrier against corrosion. With DIRAX, pipeline operators can rest assured that their infrastructure is safeguarded against the damaging effects of moisture and corrosion.

7. Pre-Attached Closure Patch: For added convenience, DIRAX comes with a pre-attached closure patch. This feature streamlines the application process, making it fast and easy for pipeline installers.

8. Low Preheat Requirements: DIRAX's low preheat requirements make the installation process faster and more efficient. By minimizing preheating time, pipeline projects can be completed in a shorter duration, leading to significant time and cost savings.

Conclusion: When it comes to road bores and directional drilling applications, DIRAX emerges as the unparalleled choice for pipeline coating. Its unique construction, including a three-layer system and reinforced fiberglass sleeve, ensures high performance, exceptional corrosion protection, and durability. With its host of beneficial features, including resistance to shear and peel forces, wear resistance, fast application, and superior barrier protection, DIRAX stands out as the very best coating available on the market today. When reliability, efficiency, and long-term protection are paramount, DIRAX is the ultimate solution for pipeline projects.

DIRAX Technical Performance

 

 DIRAX:  Unmatched Pipeline Coating Performance

Based on the provided data, let's analyze DIRAX as a pipeline coating and explain why it is considered the best product on the market.

1. Product Thickness:
   • Backing (as supplied): 1.85 mm (0.073 in.)
   • Backing (fully free recovered): 2.3 mm (0.091 in.)
   • Adhesive (as supplied): 1.2 mm (0.047 in.)
   • Wear cone (incl. coating) (as supplied): 3.05 mm (0.12 in.)

The product thickness values indicate that DIRAX provides substantial coating thickness, which is essential for protecting pipelines against external factors, such as corrosion and mechanical damage.

2. Backing Properties:
   • Bursting Strength (DIN 30672): 2350 N

The bursting strength of 2350 N indicates that the backing material of DIRAX is highly durable and can withstand significant pressure. This property ensures that the coating can resist external forces and maintain its integrity.

3. Adhesive Properties:
   • Softening Point (ASTM E-28): 94°C (201°F)
   • Lap Shear (EN 12068 @ 10mm/0.40"/min., 50°C/122°F): 0.55 N/mm²

The relatively high softening point of 94°C (201°F) suggests that DIRAX can withstand elevated temperatures without losing its adhesive properties. The lap shear test result of 0.55 N/mm² at 50°C (122°F) indicates that the adhesive provides strong bonding between the coating and the pipeline surface, ensuring excellent adhesion even under challenging conditions.

4. Sleeve Properties:
   • Peel to Steel (EN 12068 @ 10mm/0.40"/min.): 18 N/mm
   • Specific Coating Resistance (DIN 30672, 100 days immersion): 6 x 10^8 Ωm²
   • Impact Resistance (EN 12068, Class C): Pass 15 J
   • Penetration Resistance (EN 12068, Class C50, 50°C/122°F): > 0.6 mm
   • Cathodic Disbondment (EN 12068, 30 days, 50°C/122°F): 8 mm radius

The high peel to steel value of 18 N/mm suggests that DIRAX has excellent resistance to delamination and separation from the pipeline surface. The specific coating resistance value of 6 x 10^8 Ωm² indicates that the coating provides effective electrical insulation, preventing corrosion caused by stray currents. The impact resistance test passing Class C (15 J) demonstrates the ability of DIRAX to withstand mechanical impacts, reducing the risk of damage during installation or in-service conditions. The penetration resistance of > 0.6 mm at 50°C (122°F) ensures that the coating is resistant to penetration by sharp objects, protecting the pipeline from punctures. The cathodic disbondment test result of 8 mm radius after 30 days at 50°C (122°F) indicates that DIRAX has excellent resistance to disbondment, meaning it maintains a strong bond with the pipeline surface even under cathodic protection conditions.

In summary, based on the technical analysis of DIRAX as a pipeline coating, it demonstrates several desirable properties, including substantial thickness, high bursting strength, good adhesive strength, excellent peel and penetration resistance, high specific coating resistance, impact resistance, and resistance to cathodic disbondment. These properties collectively make DIRAX a superior product on the market, providing reliable protection and durability to pipelines in various operating conditions.

DIRAX Field joint Coatings

DIRAX Road Bore Coating

     Road bores and directional drilling applications put incredible stresses on pipeline coatings.  That is one reason that a main line abrasion resistant overcoat like Powercrete has been so popular over the years.  That is also one of the major reasons that dual layer FBE's and other ARO's have been developed, specified, sold and applied.  Product selection becomes a little bit more difficult when considering field joint coatings.  One of the main reasons this is the case is that field applications are dramatically different than coating plant (or lab) applications.  Crews aren't trained as well.  The environment isn't as controlled.  Nothing is stream lined in the field.  That is where the DIRAX product really shines.  Because of its simple installation, DIRAX installation is easy and consistent.  Two incredibly important features in a field applied coating.

     So, what are the steps of DIRAX installation in the field that make it so easily repeatable and consistent?  I'm glad you asked. 

1. Surface preparation; while important; is not as critical as it is in a factory setting.  The anchor patterns required for many two part epoxies and fusion bond epoxy are not major factors with DIRAX.  Like any coating, of course the substrate needs to be clean (the cleaner the better) but anchor pattern are not a requirement.  Surface prep to SA 2 1/2 (and even wire brush in some cases) is all that is required.
2. Epoxy thickness is fast and easy.  No more headaches trying to get a proper uniform epoxy thickness all the way around the pipe.  No more issues with an epoxy coating that is too thin on top and too thick on bottom with icicles and drips forming.  The DIRAX coating system utilizes our S1301M Epoxy as a bonding agent between the high shear adhesive of the DIRAX and the pipe surface (including factory applied coating).  The S1301M also acts as a coating enhancement; improving shear, peel, CD and other critical coating characteristics.  The S1301M is applied in a very thin layer; only microns thick and the coating integrity is not hinged upon a certain 30+ mil coating thickness in order to corrosion protect properly.  
3. No real skill required.  There is no requirement for skill by the installer.  Their skill is not going to determine coating thickness.  Installer skill is not going to impact holidays or fish eyes or icicles.  The installers simply wrap the DIRAX sleeve around the still wet S1301M epoxy -- the DIRAX sleeve itself is designed to shrink 25%; so there isn't even any skill in wrapping the sleeve.  Wrap it snug?  That's fine.  Wrap it with a 1/2 inch bag?  Fine.  1 inch bag?  Also probably fine (depending on your pipe size).  After that you're simply shrinking the sleeve in a circumferential pattern starting on one end and moving toward the other.  
4. Virtually no cure time.  No need wait multiple hours.  No risk of the crew pulling that pipe too soon (before the joint coating is cured) and ruining the coating.  No risk of someone bumping up against the pipe and creating holidays in the uncured epoxy.  The thinness of our epoxy, plus the heat of the steel preheat, plus the heat of the torch during the shrink process --- all leads to a fully cured coating system that is almost always ready to see stresses within just a few minutes after installation is concluded.  
5. Minimal installation time is also a big factor here.  Ignoring surface prep (which will vary based on how dirty your pipeline is) - you are looking at just a few minutes per field joint of coating time.  This saves you labor costs.  Preheating the steel to 140F is very quick (will vary based on pipe size).  Mixing and applying the epoxy is only a minute or so.  Wrapping and shrinking the DIRAX sleeve and the Leader Strip is also very fast (I've installed sleeves on a 36" pipeline in only three minutes before).