Matthew Hynes
Matthew Hynes is the National Technical Services Manager for Iplex Pty Limited, one of the leading Australian manufacturers of PVC, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) pipe and fittings systems for building, infrastructure, rural, mining, and industrial applications. Iplex is part of the publicly listed Fletcher Building group that operates multiple businesses throughout Australia and New Zealand. Matt’s career with Iplex spans 30 years in pipe extrusion, injection moulding, quality assurance, product testing, and technical service roles in New Zealand and Australia.
Matt represents Iplex on the Board of the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia’s (PIPA) as well as PVC and Polyolefins technical committees. He is also actively involved in various Standards Australia technical committees for plastic pipes and fittings systems.
Matt holds a Master of Technology degree in Environmental Engineering and Batchelor of Technology degree from the School of Engineering at Massey University, New Zealand.
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ID29- Case Study - Fusion parameters for large diameter PE pipes
In 2023 PIPA undertook an extensive revision of their Industry Guidance document known as POP003 Butt Fusion Jointing of PE Pipes and Fittings – Recommended Parameters and Practices. This revision introduced a new section providing additional guidance around best practices for butt fusion. One of the best practice elements focussed on optimising the fusion parameters particularly as PE pipelines are increasingly being used in larger diameter critical applications.
A group of PIPA members collaborated to examine the impact of differing parameters within the ISO21307 Plastics pipes and fittings — Butt fusion jointing procedures for polyethylene (PE) piping systems. The work specifically focussed on the single high pressure fusion envelope to see if additional detail could be provided in relation to optimising outcomes. A DN800 SDR11 PE100 pipe was fused using a range of different parameters, sectioned and destructively tested.
This paper details the outcome of that work and draws conclusions about fusion of large diameter PE100 pipe.