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!www.crestcormix.com.au
!CREST CORMIX PTY LTD
!Ph: 03 9945 2700 / Fax: 03 9945 2799
Australian Exclusive Distributor
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IMPORTANCE!OF!SPECIAL!FIBER!GLASS!REINFORCED!HSS3!COVALENCE!DIRAX!3!FOR!
FIELD!JOINT!COATING!!OF!PIPELINES!!INSTALLED!BY!HDD!METHOD!!
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Background:!
!
Horizontal!Directional!Drilling!(HDD)!is#a#steerable#trenchless#method#of#installing#
underground#pipes,#in#a#shallow#arc#along#a#prescribed#bore#path#by#using#a#surface7launched#
drilling#rig,#with#minimal#impact#on#the#surrounding#area.##
#
Directional#drilling#is#used#when#trenching#or#excavating#is#not#practical.#It#is#suitable#for#a#variety#
of#soil#conditions#and#jobs#including#road,#landscape#and#river#crossings.##
#
There#are,#however,#some#challenges#associated#to#HDD.#The#coating#of#the#pipe#may#be#
damaged#when#pulling#it#through#the#drilled#hole.#Especially#the#girth#weld#joint#coatings#are#very#
vulnerable#to#damages#as#the#field#joint#coating#has#the#step#at#the#overlap#portion#of#3LPE#
Coating.#
#
Coatings#are#subjected#to#extreme#abrasive#and#shear#load#when#the#pipe#is#pulled#through#the#
drilled#hole,#especially#in#soils#containing#rocks#or#stones.#
#
Since,#the#girth#weld#joint#coating#is#exposed#to#risk#of#getting#damaged#during#pulling#operation#
in#HDD#method,#therefore#normal#Heat#Shrink#Sleeves#that#are#used#in#common#open#trench#
method#cannot#be#used#in#the#HDD#method.##
#
A#special#heavy#duty#Heat#Shrink#Sleeve#having#an#excellent#resistance#to#abrasive,#shear#and#
peel#forces#is#required#for#this#purpose.#
#
Covalence#(Formerly#Raychem)#designed#the#proprietary#Fiber!Glass!Reinforced#heat#shrink#
sleeve#especially#for#field#joint#coating#of#pipeline#using#HDD#for#pipeline#installation.#
#
Description!of!DIRAX!HDD!FJC!system:!
!
The#DIRAX#system#comprises#of#monolithic#heat7shrinkable#wraparound#sleeves#and#a#two7
component#solvent#free#epoxy#primer.#
Extra#protection#is#provided#using#a#wear#cone#on#the#leading#edge#in#the#direction#of#pipe#
pulling.#
#
The#main#sleeve#is#fabricated#from#a#thick#irradiation#cross7linked#thermally#stabilized,!fiberglass!
reinforced#heat7shrinkable#woven#polyolefin#backing#that#is#coated#internally#with#a#high#shear#
strength#hot#melt#adhesive.#Adhesion#to#bare#steel#pipe#surfaces#is#enhanced#by#application#of#
the#primer.#
#
The#main#sleeve#edge#profile#that#enters#the#soil#first#is#smoothed#by#the#application#of#an#
additional#narrow#wraparound#sleeve#(wear#cone)#of#the#same#construction#as#the#main#sleeve.#
#
The#system#is#installed#using#propane#gas#torches.#First#the#primer#is#mixed#and#applied.#
While#the#primer#is#still#wet,#the#wraparound#sleeves#are#shrunk#down#onto#the#pipe#joint.#When#
post#heated,#the#sleeves#shrink#tightly#around#the#substrate#onto#the#wet#primer.##
#
During#recovery,#the#adhesive#softens#and#flows#to#form#an#intimate#bond#with#the#primer#and#
curing#of#the#primer#is#initiated.#The#bond#strength#builds#up#during#cool#down#and#is#fully#
retained#after#completion#of#the#job.#
#
Having#excellent#peel#resistance#values#and#very#high#penetration#resistance,#DIRAX#system#has#
been#the#best#choice#for#many#years#for#field#joint#coating#on#pipes#used#in#HDD#application.#
#
 #
Heat#Shrink#Sleeve#after#application#are#under#hoop#stress#and#in#case#of#any#cut#to#heat#shrink#
sleeve#during!pull!through!operation,!the!sleeve!over!a!period!develop!the!tendency!to!
split.!This!split!propagates!further!resulting!complete!tearing!of!heat!shrink!sleeve.!DIRAX!
heat!shrink!sleeve!does!not!have!tendency!to!split!propagation!as!it!contains!fiber!glass!
reinforcement!which!resist!the!sleeve!to!split!further.#
#
In#the#same#way#during#pushing#or#pulling#operation,#any#obstacle#protruding#from#the#smooth#
pipe#surface#is#loaded#by#the#surrounding#soil#that#passes#by#and#edge#of#the#installed#heat#
shrink#sleeve#have#the#tendency#to#get#damaged#being#the#projected#part.##Specially#designed#
wear#cone#of#DIRAX#sleeve#system#prevent#the#HSS#leading#edge#from#wear#&#tear.#
#
#
Fiber Glass
Reinforced
backing

Additional
sacrificial wear
cone to protect
leading edge of
HSS during
pulling

! !
!
Figure!1:!Installed!DIRAX!HSS!system!!
!
Advantage!of!DIRAX!over!normal!HSS!system!(two!HSS!on!top!of!each!other):!
#
There#is#no#reliable#alternative#other#than#DIRAX#for#HDD#applications.#However,#some#
manufacturers#offer#two#normal#heat#shrink#sleeves#(Without!fiber!glass!reinforcement)#on#top#
of#each#other.#This#kind#of#system#does#not#provide#enough#resistance#to#peel,#shear,#abrasion#&#
penetration.#Therefore#it#carries#a#high#risk#of#getting#damaged#during#pulling#process.#
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 Following#are#the#notable#advantages#of#DIRAX#HSS#system#over#normal#HSS#system.#
#
•# High#resistance#to#shear#&#peel#forces#induced#by#soil#and#thermal#movement.#
•# Being#a#fiber#glass#reinforced#pose#very#high#abrasion#and#penetration#resistance#
equivalent#to#mil#coating#which#protect#the#coating#form#damage#due#to#impact#of#
sharp#rock#and#stone#particles.#
•# Resistance#to#split#propagation,#circumferential#edge#loading.#
•# Being#a#single#layer#HSS#system#provides#a#monolithic#coating.#
•# Additional#wear#cone#protect#the#leading#edge#of#sleeve#during#pull#–through#
forces.#
•# Sleeve#applied#over#wet!epoxy!forms#a#strong#chemical#bond.#There#is#no#curing#
/#waiting#time#and#therefore#it#allows#fast#application#and#ensures#high#
performance.#This#reduces#overall#cost#of#ownership.##
•# Superior#cathodic#disbondment#and#hot#water#resistance.#
#
FJC!Specifications!overview!for!HDD!section:!
!
In#general,#field#joint#coating#specifications#mention#application#of#normal#Heat#Shrink#
Sleeves#for#pipelines#laid#by#open#trench#method#as#most#of#the#pipeline#section#is#comprise#
of#open#trench#laying#technique.##
#
However,#most#of#the#end#users#/#laying#contractors#are#aware#of#the#special#field#joint#
coating#requirements#for#pipeline#used#in#HDD#section.#
#
To#avoid#any#risk#of#failure#due#to#wrong#selection#of#field#joint#coating#material#for#HDD#
section,#most#of#the#end#users#categorically#mention#fiber!glass!reinforced!sleeve#for#HDD#
in#their#specifications,#drawings/#data#sheets#&#procedures.##
#
DIRAX#is#the#special#product#of#the#Covalence#and#is#the#only#sleeve#available#worldwide#which#
has#the#fiber#glass#reinforcement#and#was#especially#designed#for#field#joint#coating#of#HDD#
section.#
#
Below#is#the#extract#from#one#of#the#FJC#specification#of#PERTAMINA!(Indonesia)#which#
categorically#state#to#use#“Fiberglass!Reinforced!HSS”.##
Box 1 – excerpt from PERTAMINA (Indonesia) specification

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 PTT!Thailand#specifically#issue#separate#specification#for#field#joint#coating#for#HDD#section.#
Extract#for#the#same#is#mentioned#below#which#also#state#to#use#“Fiberglass!Reinforced!HSS”.#
Box 2 – excerpt from PTT (Thailand) specification

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 ###########Comparison!of!COVALENCE!DIRAX!system!V/S!competitor!normal!HSS!system!
!
#
S.NO% PROPERTY% COVALENCE%/%DIRAX% OTHER%HSS% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%REMARKS%
%
1% CONSTRUCTION%
%%
1.1! First!Layer!
%% S13010M! Two!component!epoxy!! !!
%% DIRAX!!adhesive!being!a!!
High!Shear!Strength!Co0 Heat!sensitive!hot!melt!! high!shear!strength!poses!
1.2! Second!Layer!
polymer!Adhesive! adhesive!! very!high!peel!and!shear!
resistance!values!!
DIRAX!HSS!has!a!fiber!glass!
reinforcement!which!
provides!excellent!
resistance!to!abrasion!&!
penetration,!split!
Fiber!Glass!Reinforced,!
Heat!Shrinkable!HDPE! propagation!&!
1.3! Third!Layer! radiation!cross0linked!Heat!
backing! circumferential!edge!loading!!
Shrinkable!HDPE!backing!
Whereas!other!do!not!have!
any!fiber!glass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reinforcement!integrated.!
They!are!normal!heat!
shrinkable!sleeves.!
Narrow!width!sacrificial!wear!
cone!!for!extra!protection! Entire!HSS!installed!on!
Additional!
1.4! against!pull!through!forces!!of! top!of!previous!HSS!as! !
Component!
the!same!construction!as!the! Sacrificial!layer!
main!sleeve!
%
2% COMPATIBILITY%AND%OPERATING%CONDITIONS%
%%
Compatible!Line!
%%
2.1! PE,!FBE! PE,!FBE! !!
Coatings!
%%
2.2! Pre0Heat!Temp.! 60!070!⁰C! 60!070!⁰C! !!
DIRAX!HSS!lead!to!fast!
installation!due!to!the!
elimination!of!force!curing!
Temperature!of!
step!pf!epoxy!primer.!This!
2.3! Force!Curing!of! Not!required! 90!+/0!5!⁰C!
also!save!cost!as!it!does!not!
epoxy!
require!induction!heating!
system!for!curing!of!epoxy!
primer!!

Recommended!
2.4! SA0!2½! SA0!2½! !!
Pipe!Prep!
 %
% %
3% FUNCTIONAL%AND%MECHANICAL%PARAMETERS%
%%
Bursting!Strength!
%%
3.1! 2350!N!(DN!30672)! NA!! !
of!the!Backing!
%%
Softening!Point!of!
3.2! 94!⁰C!(ASTM!E028)! 95⁰C!(ASTM!E028)! !!
the!Adhesive!!
No!shear!strength!is! DIRAX!poses!very!high!shear!
Lap!Shear!of!the!
3.3! 40!N/cm²!@!60⁰C!C! mentioned!in!data! strength!comparative!to!
Adhesive!
sheet!at!60!⁰C! other!HHS!systems!!
DIRAX!poses!very!high!peel!
Peel!to!Steel! >11!N/mm!@!23⁰C!! 6.8!N!/!cm!@!23⁰C!!! resistance!value!!
3.4!
Typical!value!! (!EN!12068!)! ASTM!D!1000! comparative!to!other!HSS!
systems!!
Pass!holiday!detection!!
Pass!15J,!No!Holidays!@!20KV!
3.5! Impact!Resistance! No!value!is!mentioned! !!
(EN!12068!Class!C)!
in!data!sheet!!
Indentation! DIRAX!indentation!
Resistance!! Pass!3.1mm!@!60⁰C!(EN! No!value!is!mentioned! resistance!values!are!
3.6!
(!Residual! 12068!Class!C)! in!data!sheet!!! superior!compared!to!other!
thickness)! HSS!

4.3!mm!ASTM!0!G42!! 7.5!mm!,!ASTM!0!G42! DIRAX!Cathodic!

Cathodic!
3.7! Disbondment!resistance!
Disbondment! 0!mm!@!60!⁰C!(EN12068,!30! <!15!mm!rad!@!80⁰C!! values!are!superior!!!
days)! G!42!!
Resistance!to!UV! Reduction!in!Bursting!
radiation!followed! Strength!<!25%!of!the!original! DIRAX!have!good!UV!
3.8! Poor!!UV!resistance!!
by!Bursting! value!(ASTMD02565!/!EN! resistance!performance!!
strength! 12068)!

4% Application% %% %% %%

Pre0Heating!prior!to!
4.1! application!of! 60070!⁰C! 60!070!⁰C! !!
epoxy!
The!recommended!method!
for!force!curing!is!indirect!
Force!Curing!of!epoxy!is! heating!through!induction!
On!wet!epoxy!(S1301M).!No! required!by!heating!it! generator!and!coil.!Exposure!
4.2! Sleeve!Application!
need!to!cure!the!epoxy! to!a!temperature!of!95! of!naked!flame!on!the!epoxy!
+/0!5!⁰C!! can!contaminate!the!same.!!
DIRAX!HSS!do!not!require!
force!curing!!
5% Track%Record% %% %% %%

DIRAX!HSS!has!extensive!
worldwide!track!record!and!
most!of!the!FJC!specification!
No!Track!Record!or!!
Extensive!track!record! categorically!mention!to!use!
5.1! World!Wide! minimal!track!record!
worldwide.!! "!Fiber!Glass!Reinforced!HSS!
for!HDD!application!!
for!HDD!applications!.!Only!
DIRAX!has!a!Fiber!Glass!
integrated!reinforcement!!
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