Life Predictions of Elastomers in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

Because of increasing health concerns associated with the formation of disinfection by‐products such as trihalomethanes, many water utilities have replaced chlorine disinfectants with chloramines. Subsequent to this change, several utilities reported problems with substantially higher rates of elast...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal - American Water Works Association 2007-12, Vol.99 (12), p.99-110
Main Authors: ROCKAWAY, THOMAS D., WILLING, GEROLD A., NAGISETTY, RAJA MOHAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
By products
Chloramines
Chlorine
Chloroprene resins
Degradation
Dienes
Disinfection & disinfectants
Distribution Systems
Drinking water
Elastomers
Failure
Hardness
Laboratories
Life expectancy
Material degradation
Modeling
Natural rubber
Nitriles
Propylene
Rubber
Studies
Sulfur
Temperature
Temperature effects
Water distribution
Water distribution systems
Water treatment
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Summary:Because of increasing health concerns associated with the formation of disinfection by‐products such as trihalomethanes, many water utilities have replaced chlorine disinfectants with chloramines. Subsequent to this change, several utilities reported problems with substantially higher rates of elastomer failure. To predict the long‐term performance of commonly found elastomers, accelerated aging tests were conducted at combinations of three temperatures (23, 45, and 70°C) and three concentrations (1, 30, and 60 mg/L) for natural rubber; neoprene rubber; ethylene propylene diene monomer, peroxide‐cured (EPDM[P]); styrene butadiene rubber (SBR); ethylene propylene diene monomer, sulfur‐cured (EPDM[S]); and nitrile rubber. Elastomer degradation was characterized by mass change, volume change, breaking stress, breaking strain, and hardness. Using the time‐temperature superposition principle, “short‐term” test results at accelerated temperatures were shifted over time to predict “long‐term” results, generating master degradation curves at the service temperature for different disinfectant concentrations. Relatively, EPDM(P) and EPDM(S) were found to be least susceptible to chloramine degradation followed by nitrile rubber, SBR, natural rubber, and neoprene rubber.
ISSN:0003-150X
1551-8833
DOI:10.1002/j.1551-8833.2007.tb08113.x