expectation of a 50-year life cycle. Our sheet
pile will outlast most of the usual components
being used in most installations. The vinyl sheet
pile now becomes the strongest link in the
chain.
8.2 The tests that we have and are conducting
can be reviewed under the earlier Section 5 of
rd
this paper. We have used 3 party testing labs
to confirm that our expectations regarding long-
term design strength and longevity are correct.
8.3 We can see the growing popularity of vinyl
sheet pile demonstrated quite clearly in New
Jersey, where vinyl has all but replaced wood
sheet pile in the last 11 years. The earliest walls
are in place with no change in the material
since installation. This same growth can be
witnessed in Florida, Louisiana, New York,
Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, the Carolina's,
Caribbean Islands, Central and South America,
and nearly anywhere on earth where property
needs protection from erosion. We can also
point to the extensive use of vinyl siding and its
continued market growth, which started in the
late 60's, became popular in the 70's and is still
serviceable today; 35 to 40 years later.
PVC was first used commercially in Germany as
far back as 1935 in pipe applications. With the
improvements in the compounds, UV inhibitors
and impact modifiers, the PVC pipe industry still
thrives. Further evidence to its weatherability is
the explosive growth seen in other building
products such as vinyl decking, vinyl fencing,
window and doorframes with new products
being introduced at every building show. There
is obviously a growing confidence in the uses
for weatherable PVC.
9. Degradation of properties
9.1 Physical properties of Flexural
9. We have not specifically tested for any long
See Appendix
over time:
Strength, Flexural Modulus, Tensile
creep. Many industry studies on mechanical
Strength, and Tensile Modulus remain
strengths vs. UV exposure time have been
9.1 Strengths:
relatively constant over time. Long-
done using standard weatherable rigid PVC
Have you established any change
term outdoor weathering studies show
compounds. These were referenced in the
with time in compressive strength,
60 percent impact retention in high UV
development of C-Loc and repeating the tests
tensile strength and shear strength
climates.
was not deemed necessary. One example is a
of the material constituting your
1993 study done at BF Goodrich, one of the
9.2 Physical properties of Flexural
vinyl sheet pile products by
world leaders in rigid PVC manufacture and
Strength, Flexural Modulus, Tensile
exposure to out door conditions
research. Please see attached BF Goodrich
Strength, and Tensile Modulus remain
(sunlight)? If so, what is the rate of
study and Elf Atochem study for reference.
relatively constant over time.
change?
9.2 See answer to 9.1 above
9.3 Creep precluded when stress is
9.2 Elastic modulus:
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