Test standards Alpine supports: API 6A, API 16C, NACE TM0187, NACE TM0296, ISO 23936, & NORSOK M710
Compatibility testing is a set of tests that determine a material’s resistance to exposure and aging in specific environments.
Extreme service environments can have different chemicals present, including corrosive gases, acids, brines, hydrocarbons, and more. Extreme temperature and pressures are also frequently encountered. Alpine offers several standard and customized tests that certify elastomers, plastics, and metals as resistant to these environments.
Alpine can perform testing under any fluid/gas combination that your elastomer will be exposed to in a service environment. This simulates real world situations through high temperature and aggressive exposures. After the exposure, we offer comprehensive tensile, compression, O-ring, compression set, CSR, flex, bonding, shear, impact and other tests to provide the information that you need. This ensures that the material performs as expected where integrity is necessary.
A summary of damage expectations for H2S, acids, bases, brines, and hydrocarbons can be seen here
Standards we support include ISO 23936-1, ISO 23936-2, NORSOK M710, ASTM D471, NACE TM0187, NACE TM0296, and bespoke testing options to ensure that our data can match our customer’s needs.
Alpine Expanded Capabilities
Test conditions we support:
- Temperatures from cryogenic to 400°C
- Pressure up to 40,000 psi
- Precise and accurate testing control software
- Several mechanical and performances tests available after exposure
- Alpine In-Situ testing to allow mechanical testing while the material is in the aging environment
Testing Details
The process for fluid compatibility testing is similar regardless of the media that a sample is exposed to. When testing with liquids, a vessel is filled with the appropriate mixture and brought to temperature. When testing with gases, the samples are placed in the vessel before the gas is added. The vessels are held at the specified temperature and pressure for the test duration, which can range from hours to months. After the immersion is complete, the samples are cooled and dried before follow-up mechanical tests.