Slurry pipe

steelHDPEhigh-pressure

Steel pipes have long been the primary choice for traditional mineral slurry transportation. However, mineral slurry contains large quantities of high-hardness solid particles (e.g., slag, gravel, gangue), and the transportation of this solid-liquid mixture causes constant scouring of the pipeline’s inner wall. This leads to a gradual thinning of the steel pipe wall and even “wear-through leakage” within a short timeframe. At the same time, mineral slurry often contains acidic, alkaline, and chloride-containing media—all of which trigger two types of corrosion on steel pipes: “chemical corrosion” (e.g., iron dissolution by acidic slurry) and “electrochemical corrosion” (galvanic cell formation at welds and joints). Both forms of corrosion accelerate pipeline perforation. Consequently, steel pipelines typically have a service life of only 5–8 years; in some cases, they even require replacement within 3–5 years, resulting in significant total lifecycle costs. Thus, “pressure resistance” is not the primary challenge. Instead, the core pain point for mining pipelines lies in addressing abrasion and corrosion—this is key to extending service life and lowering total lifecycle costs. Abrasion Resistance Thus, the challenges for mining pipelines extend beyond mere high-pressure resistance—it is even more critical to address wear and corrosion issues. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes excel at solving the corrosion problem and offer better abrasion resistance than traditional steel pipes. However, their abrasion resistance still cannot fully meet the practical needs of mining customers.