Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Degradation of the Main Gas Pipeline Material and Mechanisms of Its Fracture

This Ukrainian engineering study evaluated how long-term in-service operation causes structural degradation in gas pipeline steel, examining the role of hydrogen absorption in reducing mechanical properties and accelerating damage accumulation. This is an industrial materials science study with no relevance to microplastic pollution.

2014 Journal of Civil Engineering and Management 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of structural and physical degradation of the stressed metal of pipes on the damage of main gas pipelines

Researchers examined the mechanisms by which structural and physical degradation of stressed pipeline metal contributes to stress corrosion cracking in main gas pipelines, analysing regulatory approaches and diagnostic methods. They found that hydrogen concentrating in near-surface metal layers — facilitated by tensile stresses — promotes microplastic deformations that intensify crack propagation, identifying surface layer defects as the primary driver of corrosion-mechanical failure.

2025
Article Tier 2

Low temperature impact toughness of the main gas pipeline steel after long-term degradation

This engineering study examined how long-term in-service degradation affects the low-temperature fracture toughness of gas pipeline steel, finding correlations between microstructure changes and reduced impact resistance over time. This is an industrial materials science study with no relevance to microplastic pollution.

2014 Open Engineering 28 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of fatigue crack growth for pipeline steels exposed to hydrogen

This review examines how exposure to pressurized hydrogen accelerates fatigue crack growth in pipeline steels, a concern for hydrogen energy transport infrastructure. This structural engineering study has no connection to microplastics or environmental health.

2010 Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 126 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Cyclic Ice Plug Deformation on Microstructure and Mechanical Behaviors of Nuclear-Grade Low-Carbon Tubular Steel

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a metallurgy study examining how cyclic freeze-thaw ice plugging affects the dislocation microstructure and mechanical properties of nuclear-grade steel pipeline material.

2024 Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility and Fracture Toughness Drop after in situ Hydrogen Cathodic Charging for an X65 Pipeline Steel

This paper studied how hydrogen exposure affects the fracture toughness of X65 pipeline steel, which is used in oil and gas infrastructure. While not about microplastics directly, degraded or fractured pipelines are a potential source of plastic and hydrocarbon pollution in marine and coastal environments.

2020 Micromachines 36 citations
Article Tier 2

The Behaviour of Polymeric Pipes in Drinking Water Distribution System. Comparison with Other Pipe Materials

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it reviews how different pipe materials used in drinking water distribution systems leach chemicals, corrode, and support microbial growth, focusing on metal and polymer pipes and their impact on water quality.

2023 Preprints.org 6 citations
Article Tier 2

1990 Plenary Lecture: Strain Rate Effects in Stress Corrosion Cracking

This materials engineering paper examines how strain rate governs stress corrosion cracking in metals, with microplastic deformation at the material level being a key mechanistic factor. The study applies to understanding pipeline and structural failures but uses 'microplastic' in a materials science context entirely unrelated to environmental plastic pollution.

1990 CORROSION 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and identification of microplastics retained in corrosion deposits of drinking water transmission pipes

Researchers investigated corrosion deposits inside drinking water pipes and found that microplastics and nanoplastics become trapped within the porous, rusty buildup. These trapped particles can be released back into the water supply when conditions change, such as during pipe maintenance or water pressure shifts. The study raises concerns about drinking water pipes serving as hidden reservoirs of microplastic contamination.

2024 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Wires of the Long-Operated Aluminum-Steel Cable at Different Places on an Overhead Power Line Span

This materials science paper examines the structural and mechanical properties of aluminum-steel cable wires from long-operated power lines. This is an engineering paper with no direct relevance to microplastics or environmental health.

2023 Crystals 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Sustainability in Piping Systems: Exploring the Impact of Material Selection and Design Optimisation

This paper analyzes how material selection in piping systems affects environmental sustainability, evaluating the trade-offs between different pipe materials in terms of their ecological and economic footprints. Choosing sustainable, long-lasting materials for infrastructure can reduce the plastic waste that eventually breaks down into microplastics.

2021 International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbially influenced corrosion and rust tubercle formation on sheet piles in freshwater systems

This paper is not relevant to microplastics; it investigates the microbial communities and electrochemical processes responsible for corrosion and rust formation on steel sheet piles in a German freshwater river.

2023 Environmental Microbiology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Accelerated Hydrothermal Aging and Degradation Mechanism of PE100 Butt-Fusion Welded Joint

Researchers simulated the long-term aging of high-density polyethylene pipeline welded joints in water at various temperatures and found that higher temperatures caused more significant degradation of mechanical properties. The study used multiple characterization techniques to reveal changes in the molecular structure of the joints during hydrothermal aging. These findings help predict the service life of HDPE pipelines used in ocean energy transportation and inform strategies to mitigate aging-related failures.

2024 Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Longitudinal and vertical distribution of microplastics in various pipe scales in an operating drinking water distribution system

Researchers collected samples from an operating drinking water distribution system and found microplastics in all tap water and pipe scale samples tested. They discovered that microplastic abundance varied along the length and depth of pipe scales, with older and more corroded pipes harboring higher concentrations. The study reveals that the pipe network itself is a significant source of microplastic contamination in the water that reaches people's taps.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Suitability of DIC and ESPI optical methods for monitoring fatigue damage development in X10CrMoVNb9-1 power engineering steel

This engineering study compared two optical measurement techniques — digital image correlation and electronic speckle pattern interferometry — for monitoring metal fatigue in steel pipe material. It is not related to microplastics or environmental health.

2021 Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging of drinking water transmission pipes during long-term operation as a potential source of nano- and microplastics

A study of aging plastic water pipes (PE and PVC) used in drinking water systems found that over time, the pipe surfaces crack and peel, releasing micro- and nanoplastic particles into tap water. Smaller-diameter pipes at the ends of distribution networks showed the most degradation, meaning households furthest from water treatment plants may receive the highest levels of plastic contamination in their drinking water.

2024 International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating Adhesion and Degradation of Polymer Materials for Industrial Applications

This study investigated the adhesion and degradation behaviors of polymer materials used in industrial applications, examining how surface interactions and environmental breakdown contribute to plastic pollution through microplastic generation.

2024 Deep Blue (University of Michigan)
Article Tier 2

Biofilm induced microplastics and microbial metabolites release from Polypropylene Random pipes in drinking water distribution systems

Researchers investigated how biofilm colonisation of polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) pipes used in drinking water distribution systems drives surface deterioration and releases microplastics and microbial metabolites into water, using SEM, flow cytometry with 16S rRNA sequencing, and GC-MS analysis. They found that biofilm formation progressively roughened pipe surfaces through microbial colonisation, with biofilm-induced corrosion generating MPs and secondary metabolites that pose water safety risks under long-term deployment conditions.

2025 Water Research
Article Tier 2

Release of microplastics from typical rainwater facilities during aging process

Simulated aging and hydraulic scouring of three types of plastic rainwater infrastructure -- inspection wells, storage modules, and pipes -- showed that all released microplastics into stormwater systems, with release rates dependent on material type and degree of aging.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodeterioration and Chemical Corrosion of Concrete in the Marine Environment: Too Complex for Prediction

Not directly relevant to microplastics — this paper reviews chemical and biological corrosion of concrete structures in the marine environment.

2023 Preprints.org 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in water supply systems: In water and pipe scales

Researchers found microplastics present throughout drinking water supply systems, both in treated water and accumulated within pipe scales, with concentrations in pipe scales being significantly higher than in the water itself.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 113 citations
Article Tier 2

The influence of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth rate in marine steels in the Paris Region

This study examined how internal microstructure affects fatigue crack growth in marine-grade steel under seawater and air conditions, identifying three crack-influencing phenomena. The research pertains to offshore structural integrity and is not directly related to microplastics or human health.

2020 Fatigue & Fracture of Engineering Materials & Structures 20 citations