In the global polybutene-1 (PB-1) industry, where technical standards have long been dominated by international giants, Sinopec's domestic PB-1 has broken new ground. As a pioneer in China's high-end polyolefin sector, it has not only achieved technological breakthroughs but also taken the lead in shaping industry norms—spearheading the formulation of 12 domestic industry standards and becoming the first Chinese PB-1 product to pass the ISO 15874 certification for hot water pressure resistance (PN1.6MPa at 95℃). This dual achievement in standard-setting and international certification marks China's transition from a "standard follower" to a "rule maker" in the global PB-1 market.

From Technical Breakthrough to Standard Leadership: Building a System of Domestic Norms

For decades, China's PB-1 industry relied on imported technologies and standards, resulting in fragmented product quality and incompatible application specifications. As late as 2015, there were no unified national standards for PB-1 pipes, leading to chaotic market competition where "inferior products undercut quality ones."

Sinopec's involvement in standard-setting began with its own technological breakthroughs. After successfully developing the 3,000-ton/year high isotactic polybutene-1 industrial demonstration plant, the company led a consortium of research institutions, manufacturers, and end-users to address this gap. Over eight years, they formulated 12 critical standards covering the entire industry chain:

· Raw material specifications: Defined key indicators such as isotacticity (≥98%) and melt flow rate (0.4-1.0 g/10min) to ensure material consistency.

· Production processes: Established norms for nucleating agent addition and crystal transformation to stabilize product performance.

· Product testing: Standardized methods for evaluating stress crack resistance and low-temperature impact strength, aligning with real-world application needs.

These standards have eliminated ambiguity in quality assessment. For example, the Technical Specification for PB-1 Piping Systems in Building Water Supply and Heating (JG/T 491-2021) specifies that pipes must withstand 1,000 hours of pressure testing at 80℃ and 4MPa—a requirement derived from Sinopec's own product data, ensuring that only high-performance PB-1 enters critical infrastructure projects.

ISO 15874 Certification: Opening the Door to Global Markets

While domestic standards lay the foundation, international certification is the passport to global competition. In 2023, Sinopec's PB-1 pipes passed the ISO 15874 certification—an internationally recognized benchmark for plastic piping systems—with flying colors, particularly excelling in the hot water pressure test:

· Test conditions: Sustained pressure of PN1.6MPa (16 bar) at 95℃, simulating extreme conditions in high-temperature heating systems.

· Performance result: No leakage or structural failure after 10,000 cycles, exceeding the standard's minimum requirement of 5,000 cycles.

This achievement is significant for two reasons. First, it validates that Chinese PB-1 meets global quality standards, enabling its use in international projects such as Southeast Asian high-rise building heating systems and Middle Eastern desalination pipelines. Second, it positions China as a contributor to global standardization—Sinopec's technical experts now participate in ISO working groups, influencing revisions to standards like ISO 15874 to better reflect the needs of emerging markets.

In Dubai's 2023 International Building Materials Exhibition, Sinopec's PB-1 pipes, certified by ISO 15874, attracted partnerships with three local contractors, marking the first large-scale entry of Chinese PB-1 into the Middle Eastern market.

Standard-Setting Power Translates to Market Trust

For downstream industries, products backed by robust standards and international certifications mean reduced risks and enhanced reliability. This has been validated in key domestic projects:

· Beijing Winter Olympics Venues: The ice rink heating system used Sinopec's PB-1 pipes, which met the stringent standards for low-temperature resistance and pressure stability specified in GB/T 19473.2 (a standard led by Sinopec), ensuring uninterrupted operation during the Games.

· Shanghai Pudong International Airport Expansion: Adopting PB-1 pipes certified by ISO 15874, the project achieved a 30% reduction in maintenance costs compared to traditional materials, thanks to the clear performance benchmarks defined in the standards.

Manufacturers also benefit from the unified standards. A Shandong-based pipe producer reported that adopting Sinopec-led standards reduced product rejection rates from 8% to 2%, as clear specifications minimized quality fluctuations.

The Technical Backbone of Standard Leadership

Behind Sinopec's dominance in standard-setting lies its technological prowess. The company's PB-1 products excel in critical metrics that form the basis of standards:

· High-temperature stability: Withstands 95℃ hot water pressure (PN1.6MPa) for over 10,000 hours, data that directly informed the revision of GB/T 6111-2018.

· Low-temperature toughness: -40℃ impact strength of 20kJ/m², which became a key indicator in China's cold-region piping standards.

By integrating real-world performance data into standard development, Sinopec ensures that norms are not just theoretical but practical, driving industry-wide quality improvements.