Effect of carbon-based antistatic agent on properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Polymer lining material has a bright application prospect to improve the corrosion resistance of metal oil and gas pipelines in service, but its further popularization and application is constrained by the poor antistatic property. Therefore, the Ultra-High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) was modified by blending with the carbon-based antistatic agent. Specifically, an UHMWPE pipe was manufactured by tensile rheological extrusion process and the performance tests were conducted accordingly. The results show that, the addition of antistatic agent significantly reduces the surface resistivity of the UHMWPE material, and the property difference of these antistatic agents is mainly associated with their microstructures. The addition of a single antistatic agent can lower the surface resistivity of UHMWPE effectively, but it may also reduce the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, wearing resistance and swelling resistance of UHMWPE, and thus its application is limited. However, the addition of the prepared compound antistatic agent of conductive carbon black and graphene into UHMWPE may reduce the resistivity of UHMWPE, while keeping the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and swelling resistance of UHMWPE basically unchanged. Generally, the research results could provide reference for the application of lining technology in the products pipeline transportation industry.