Welding dilemma ‘washed away!’

Phil Black - PII Editor 06/11/2009

206 1 minute read

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Stainless steel pipe welding

A major UK food manufacturer recently prevented a catastrophe from occurring.

They needed to complete a repair of their 6” stainless steel pipe, but were unable to use a conventional mechanical pipe purge system.

Because the repair was in a section without an entry or exit point, there would have been no way to extract the purging system after completion of the weld.

Due to the nature of the business, it was critical that the pipe was completely free from residue that could potentially contaminate any food produce.

When the situation was presented to Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Limited (HFT), world leaders in the manufacture and supply of weld purge equipment, they were able to suggest an immediate solution.

HFT’s Argweld® ‘Water-soluble Purge Film’, was recommended, the weld completed and the pipe fully operational, with a minimum of fuss.

The Purge film is available in a kit that comprises a 20 metre length of 1 metre wide film, folded in half and rolled on a 500 mm long spool.

Inside the spool are two bottles of adhesive and a special tool for cutting out the water soluble dams.

Once glued inside a pipe, the water soluble film dam makes an impenetrable barrier, but can then be easily washed away when hydrostatically testing or washing out the pipe.

Not only does it fully dissolve upon contact with water, the film and adhesive are completely biodegradable and all packing recyclable.

More product information is available from the company.