2025 Volume 74 Issue 12 Pages 233-238
A polyethylene-coated steel pipe that had been buried for 51 years was examined to evaluate the deterioration behavior of the polyethylene coating in a buried environment. The investigation revealed that various physical properties and the corrosion protection performance of the polyethylene coating had declined over time. It was found that even in a buried environment, polyethylene undergoes oxidative degradation starting from its surface. This oxidative deterioration can be mitigated by incorporating antioxidants into the material. Therefore, with proper oxidation prevention measures applied to polyethylene coatings, effective corrosion protection can potentially be maintained for over 50 years.
