In the oil and mining industries, pipelines face constant exposure to abrasive slurries, corrosive chemicals, and extreme environmental conditions. Traditional materials like steel or standard plastic pipes often fall short due to limited abrasion and chemical resistance, leading to frequent maintenance, leaks, and costly downtime.
To overcome these limitations, the use of polycarbonate-based urethane prepolymers (PC-PUs) offers a high-performance alternative to produce polyurethane inner coatings. Compared to conventional polyurethanes based on polyether or polyester diols, PC-PUs provide superior resistance to abrasion, chemicals and hydrolysis, while maintaining outstanding mechanical properties and structural integrity over time.
PC-PUs are ideal for producing internal lining polyurethane coatings of pipes, protecting them from aggressive exposure. Mechanical tests show that polyurethanes made with PC-PU prepolymers exhibit up to 4 times greater tensile strength and 6.5 times higher resilience than PTMEG-based alternatives. They also retain their performance more effectively after exposure to harsh chemicals, making them suitable for vibration-damping materials and high-stress joint sealants.
UBE, a global leader in polycarbonate diol technology, offers the ETERNACOLL® range of polycarbonate diols and ETERNATHANE® prepolymers, specifically designed for oil and mining challenges. These solutions help reduce pipeline wear, lower maintenance costs, and extend service life under the most demanding conditions.
To learn more about how PC-PUs can boost the performance of your polyurethane systems in oil and mining applications, fill out the form and download the full document.
