Plastic pressure pipe systems are used for the conveyance of
drinking waterDrinking water or potable water is water of sufficiently high quality that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long term harm...
, waste water, chemicals, heating and cooling fluids, foodstuffs, ultra-pure liquids, slurries, gases, compressed air and
vacuumIn everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty," but in reality, no volume of space can ever be perfectly empty...
system applications, both for above and below ground applications. Plastic pressure pipe systems have been in use in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for drinking water systems since the 1950s.
Types of pipe systems
The most common pipe systems are named after the materials they are made from. The type of pipe in use is dependent on the material passed through the pipe, the operating pressure, and the operating temperature. To ensure pipes from different vendors work together, the ISO sets standards for manufacturers to follow.
Materials
In addition to the fittings, valves, and accessories that comprise a pipe system, the pipes themselves vary in size and composition, depending on the application.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
ABS is suitable for the conveyance of potable water, slurries and chemicals, and is used for chilled water applications, due to its low temperature properties and compressed airline systems.
In residential settings, it is often used for drain pipes.
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC)
uPVC, commonly known as rigid PVC is used where resistance to chemicals and abuse is required.
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (cPVC)
cPVC has many of the same properties as uPVC, and is also resistant to many acids, bases, salts, paraffinic hydrocarbons, halogens and alcohols. It is not resistant to solvents, aromatics and some chlorinated hydrocarbons.
In some places, it has been approved in residential water supply systems.
Polypropylene (PP)
PolypropylenePolypropylene or polypropene is a thermoplastic polymer, made by the chemical industry and used in a wide variety of applications, including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and...
is approved for use with foodstuffs, potable and ultra pure waters, hydronic heating and cooling, reclaimed and rainwater systems, compressed air lines, and geothermal applications, as well as within the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Polypropylene is noted for its resistance to physical and chemical damage. Polypropylene is adversely affected by UV radiation and should have a protective coating if installed outside.
http://aquathermpipe.com/overview-of-aquatherm-piping-systems.html
Polyethylene (PE)
When compared to other plastics,
polyethylenePolyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons. Its primary use is within packaging .- Description :Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer consisting of long chains of the monomer ethylene...
shows excellent diffusion resistance, and because of this property, polyethylene has been used for gas conveyance for many years.
Oxidative-induction timeOxidative-induction time or OIT is an standardized test performed in a DSC that measures the level of stabilization of the material tested. The time between melting and the onset of decomposition in isothermal conditions is measured...
is a routine test when assessing the quality of polyethylene pipes.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
PVDF is widely used in the chemical industry as a piping system for aggressive liquids. PVDF is a homopolymer without additives such as stabilizers and processing agents. It also displays excellent flame retardant properties.
Polybutylene (PB)
PolybutylenePolybutylene is a thermoplastic Polyolefin. It is created by polymerizing butylene. It is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic, and is also known as polybutene-1. It should not be confused with polybutene, a low molecular weight oligomer with a different repeat unit.-Controversy:The suitability of...
pipes (also known as
polybutene-1Polybutene-1 is a Polyolefin or saturated polymer with the chemical formula n. It is produced by polymerisation of 1-butene and consists of a high molecular weight, isotactic, linear and semi-crystalline polymer...
or PB-1) share similar properties to polyethylene pipes except the material can be made thinner due to increased creep resistance. PB pipes were used as water supply pipes in the United States and Canada from the 1970s to the 1990s. Due to premature aging of the pipe, leaks occurred frequently and eventually a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers was settled.