Overview
There are many drivers currently acting to cause appurtenance manufacturers to consider polymeric materials in replacement of the more traditional brass and copper for potable water applications, leading to new products and even new product platforms. Those who can quickly and effectively bring these new products to market, with the assurance that they will perform in service, have a distinct competitive advantage.
Polymeric materials can confer many advantages in potable water applications. They can also represent a significant design challenge as both their short- and long-term performance properties are significantly different than more traditional metal materials. These properties, particularly long-term properties, can be significantly impacted by exposure to potable water. Products that perform well in short-term performance tests can fail in service if this is not addressed in the product development phase. Therefore, it is critical for a successful product launch to consider performance of these materials in the application and validate the final product design.
The key is to integrate new material validation into the product development phase through a process that ensures validated products are brought to market quickly and efficiently. The key steps in this process are:
- Application Analysis
- Material Quick Screening
- Material Long-Term Engineering Property Characterization
- Prototype Screening
- Final Product Validation
- Field Introduction
