R&D Group for
POLYMERS IN CORROSIVE
ENVIRONMENTS
Needs driven industrial research and testing
The R&D group for polymeric materials
Application areas of our expertise in polymeric materials
The R&D Group that consists of approximately 10 persons focuses on properties and
behaviors of plastics and rubbers in corrosive environments. With more than 30 years of
experience, we often are referred to as a world leader in the discipline of plastic
corrosion. Over the years we have:
• Process equipment in the:
– Chemical industry
– Pulp & paper industry
– Pickling and galvanizing plants
– Oil & gas industry
• Equipment in flue gas systems in heat power stations, for instance scrubbers, ducts etc
• Infrastructure applications like water and sewage pipework
• Medical device industry
• Nuclear industry, for instance pipes, cables, sealants and expansion joints
• Others
• developed the corrosion science of polymeric materials analogously to that of metals
• created true, relevant permeation resistance and corrosion data in order to support
the industry to obtain more long-lasting and reliable constructions when using plastics
• strived to create as realistic laboratory exposure environments as possible
• used modern instruments and devices to test and evaluate polymeric materials such as
DMA, DSC, FTIR, XRD, hardness, SEM/EDS, light microscopes etc
Examples of projects or assignments from the industry
We offer
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Contract R&D
Advice regarding material selection
Failure investigations
Testing of polymeric materials in corrosive environments through laboratory and
field exposures
Service life estimations based on relevant test data
Inspections and quality assurance of process equipment
Independent investigations
Literature studies etc
Pickling industry: Plastics simultaneously exposed to warm pickling acids and
pressure through a specially designed laboratory test rig, in order to study stress
corrosion cracking and predict life-times.
Failure investigation: A plant within the chemical industry suffered a leak of 50 tons of
sulphuric acid which leaked to the surrounding environment. Swerea KIMAB investigated
the failure and provided forensic evidence as to why the GRP tank had failed.
Advice and quality control: One of the most modern European power stations
for electricity and district heating was helped by Swerea KIMAB for materials selection
and quality control of the scrubbers and duct. Swerea KIMAB now also supports the
power station during the regular inspections.
Lab trials and testing: Evaluation of different resins to find one option to be
used as a liner in district heating pipes.
Training: A training for inspectors of welded piping systems in plastics has
been held for local distributors of water and sewage.
Plastic Research Program
The plastic research program is one of many member research consortia (MRC)
within Swerea KIMAB. The MRC:
• is a network for companies with similar research interests
• is based on the needs of the industry
• is independent and the program work is an excellent platform for the development
of know-how and expertise in practically oriented R&D activities
• with contribution from the participating companies makes it possible to address
larger issues in a cost-effective manner for each individual member company
• has more than 40 member companies
• has meetings and presentations twice a year
• is a very good way to meet and discuss with new and old suppliers, customers
and colleagues, i.e. an important network
Contact
Karin Jacobson, Research leader
Phone: +46 (0)8 674 17 41, mob +46 (0)73 512 71 03
karin.jacobson@swerea.se
Svante Nordänger, Section manager
Phone: +46 (0)8 674 17 82, mob +46 (0)70 632 52 58
svante.nordanger@swerea.se
Swerea KIMAB
Box 7048, SE-164 07 Kista, Sweden
www.swereakimab.se