Polypropylene pipe ensures high-flying performance for runway drainage system

[Case Study - March 2010] A new 3.5 km pipe based on BorECO™ high modulus polypropylene (PP- HM) from Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, will ensure leak-free drainage performance for the runway at Germany's Hof-Plauen airport.

A new 3.5 km pipe based on BorECO™ high modulus polypropylene from Borealis will ensure leak-free drainage performance for the runway at Germany's Hof-Plauen airport.On-going modernization connecting Hof-Plauen with international hubs for the first time in the airport's 40 year history means traffic volumes are expected to increase by 4% per year. Efficient runway drainage is a vital element in ensuring take-off and landing safety. To reach international airport runway standards, a new 3.5 km drainage network capable of withstanding extreme aircraft forces was required to replace the existing pipe system.

To ensure only short-term runway closure and minimal future maintenance requirements, high-durability BorECO-based AWADUKT PP SN10 pipes from leading pipe manufacturer REHAU AG & Co were chosen to meet the challenges of long-term pipe performance and a fast and efficient pipe installation process.

BorECO BA212E has high stiffness and impact strength. These benefits give AWADUKT PP pipes the necessary high ring stiffness and stability to endure long-term exposure to heavy load bearing. BorECO's resistance to the glycol and acetate used in defrosting and de-icing agents further aids the pipes' long-term operation. The potential for corrosion from de-icer fluids, runway defrosting chemicals, or leaked oil and fuel is an important consideration in airport pipe choice. For the Hof-Plauen project, sealing rings with oil and fuel resistance were added to the pipes to support corrosion-free performance and low maintenance needs.

To meet the fast installation requirements, REHAU took advantage of BorECO BA212E's consistent material quality to create a conventional socket-joined interlocking network of 6-meter long pipe sections. The lightweight benefits of PP-HM pipes combined with their toughness and ability to withstand wear and tear during installation ensured cost-efficient completion of the project over a short four-month period.

To ensure only short-term runway closure and minimal future maintenance requirements, high-durability BorECO-based AWADUKT PP SN10 pipes were chosen."BorECO BA212E is proving to be the ideal material for demanding airport environments, having already been used successfully in drainage systems in two other airports in Germany," comments Veronika Ettinger, Marketing Manager for business unit Pipe. "Our on-going efforts to expand the benefits of the BorECO family are building on this success, bringing new added-value innovations to our customers in the drainage and sewage segments. For example, our pioneering BorECO BA2000 grade, which achieves new levels of stiffness and impact performance for heavy duty pipes without the need for fillers or additional equipment investment."

Borealis is a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions that create value for society. With sales of EUR 6.6 billion in 2008, customers in over 120 countries, and 5,400 employees worldwide, Borealis is owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Borealis is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has production locations, innovation centers and customer service centers across Europe and the Americas. Through Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world's major oil companies, the company's footprint reaches out to the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the Indian sub-continent and Africa. Established in 1998, Borouge employs approximately 1,400 people, has customers in more than 50 countries and its headquarters are in Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Singapore.

Building on the unique Borstar® technology and their experience in polyolefins for almost 50 years, Borealis and Borouge provide innovative, value creating plastics solutions for the infrastructure (pipe systems and power and communication cables), automotive and advanced packaging markets. In addition, Borealis offers a wide range of base chemicals from melamine and plant nutrients to phenol and acetone.

Today Borealis and Borouge manufacture 4.4 million tons of polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene) per year. Borouge is currently tripling its polyolefins manufacturing capacity to 2 million tons per year (t/y) by mid-2010 and an additional 2.5 million t/y is scheduled for 2013. The companies continue to invest to ensure that their customers throughout the value chain, across the globe, can always rely on product quality, consistency and security of supply. Borouge and Borealis are committed to the principles of Responsible Care® and proactively contribute to addressing the world's water and sanitation challenges through their Water for the World™ initiative.

For more information visit:
Borealis: www.borealisgroup.com
Borouge: www.borouge.com
Water for the World: www.waterfortheworld.net

March 2010

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