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Plastic for lightweight and corrosion resistant Subsea Equipment
Subsea environments lead to a number of significant demands placed on equipment, whether it is shallow or deep water environments. Two key issues to consider with all subsea equipment are weight and resistance to corrosive sea water. Our thermoplastics and composites offer significant weight savings over conventional materials like steel and aluminium: Our Polystone® grades (PE/PP) are naturally buoyant while engineering & high temperature grades plastics such as PEEK, PEI, POM, PK, nylon and PET are approximately 50% the weight of aluminium. Durostone® composites offering increased mechanical properties whilst only weighing approx. 25% the weight of steel. This coupled with polymers natural corrosion resistance, offers the potential for future subsea components to be smaller, lighter and free of cathodic protection – leading to efficiency and economic advantages in future equipment designs.
Your advantages
- Naturally corrosion resistant materials
- Weight reduction (reduced need for costly buoyancy)
- Long-lasting and low maintenance: resistant to corrosive salt water and hydrocarbons
- Economic advantages: Possibility for cathodic protection free equipment
Typical areas of application
- ROV components and equipment.
- Pipeline-Systems
- Connectors (electronic and communication).
- Support structures (e.g. pipeline repair equipment, tee sleds, subsea tree frames).
- Subsea tree & wellhead components (protection/insulation)
- Signage
PA > PA 6 GSustamid® 6G MO black
PA > PA 6 GSustamid® 6G natural
GFK-UPDurolight® S
GFK-UPDurolight® S1
GFK-UPDurolight® S2
GFK-EPDurolight® S3
GFK-EPDurolight® S7
Product examples
Arrange technical advice
The performance and reliability of materials used in the design of machines and systems in subsea applications are influenced by a variety of factors. These criteria need to be considered in order to make the right choice. Examples:
- Contact with corrosive seawater
- Extreme weather conditions (UV) and abrasion (sand/waves)
- Exposure to demanding hydrocarbon fluids, (H2S, production fluids, greases)
- Thermal cycling/exposure to both high and low temperatures
- Mechanical demands
- Weight
- Tribological requirements (friction and wear)
We are happy to advise you on the selection of suitable materials for your particular application. Just use our contact form at the bottom of the page and write to us.
