Asbestos cement (AC) piping has been used for potable water, irrigation, drainage and sewer systems for approximately 100 years. The most significant problem affecting the structural integrity of asbestos cement pipes results from the leaching of the cement mortar binder out of the pipe wall. This leaching can occur from the internal surface, depending on the chemical make-up of the water or sewage, or from the external surface, depending on the aggressiveness of the groundwater and soil conditions. This paper describes the findings of test work on AC piping samples from potable water and sewer piping that have been in service for up to 40 to 50 years, and discusses an empirical equation developed by our company to estimate the remaining service life of AC piping systems.

Subject
Pipe surfaces, Water, Piping, Piping systems, Calcium, Mortar, Fractures, Leaching, Corrosion attacks, Cement, Sewage systems, Asbestos, Samples
© 2000 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2000
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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