Types of plastic pipes and their main characteristics

On the modern market, various types of plastic pipes are sold, which have long been an excellent alternative to steel, cast iron and galvanized pipes. Communication system engineers have long been interested in such reliable, long-term and lightweight products as the basis for building communication systems.

But It is worth noting that the use of polymer products has not only advantages, but also disadvantages, which certainly need to know before starting installation. It is about the main characteristics, properties and parameters, as well as what are the pipes from plastic, and will be discussed in this article.

Advantages of polymeric materials

The positive features that are endowed with different types of plastic materials include:

• Convenience and ease of installation, which is especially important if you do it yourself;

• The long operational period considerably exceeding the term of life of metal products;
• Corrosion Resistance. This property is due to the materials from which plastic pipes are made, which are absolutely neutral to electrochemical reactions;
• This type of pipe can be used both for external type of installation, and for internal hidden;
• The polymers are completely eco-friendly and will not harm the environment;
• Passing their way through the pipeline, the streams do not create noise, i.e. the system becomes completely silent;
• Low price;
• Extensive field of application.

The disadvantages of polymer pipes

The disadvantages of such products include:

• This type of product, even designed for drainage, is not always suitable for the construction of fire extinguishing systems;
• The use of such products in creating a pipeline for transporting hot water is limited;
• Installation technology for polymers of various types may have differences that you should be aware of.

Note! These parameters are attributed rather to features of this type of pipe than to their disadvantages. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the standard for the installation of the pipeline are steel pipes, and all others, including plastic, have inconsistencies regarding them. Such inconsistencies are considered by professionals as flaws.

The main types of polymer products

In the modern market there are plastic pipes for water of the following types:

1. PVC;
2. PP;
3. PE;
4. PEX;
5. PEX-AL-PEX.

PVC - polyvinyl chloride

Plastic PVC pipes the very first of plastic materials that have appeared on the market, were used to create plumbing and sewage systems and were recommended by building codes.

Features PVC products are as follows:

• Installation does not require the purchase and use of specialized tools.. Connection of products is carried out by methods of cold welding or bell-shaped method;
• Sufficient stiffness. The connection is carried out using cuffs, as is the case with steel materials;
• The parameters of the products allow the laying of the hidden and the outer type.

Note! Making the outer gasket, you get a system with aesthetic appeal.

• Cost-effective systems, due to the fact that PVC is the cheapest polymer.

PP - polypropylene

Ecoplastic polypropylene pipes on the modern market are represented by single-layer or multi-layer products.

Single-layer constructions are:

1. Homopolymer - PPH;
2. Block copolymer (PP type 2) - РРВ;
3. Random copolymer (PP type 3) - PPRC.

Laminated products of any section, round or shaped plastic pipes, are of three types:

1. On top of a thick layer of polypropylene is glued with a sealant foil, which is then covered with another thin layer of plastic, called protective;
2. The foil layers, the thick polypropylene base and the protective layer are joined by the perforations present on the foil;
3. A layered structure in which a layer of a material with low ductility is included between two layers of soft plastic.

Installation instructions for such products involves the use of specialized equipment for the production of thermoplastic welding.

Black plastic pipe made of PP is usually produced in 4-meter lengths and in diameter from 1.6 to 12.5 cm. Similar products are completed with various elements depending on the tasks (fittings, ducts, etc.)

The scope of such materials are:

• Cold drinking water supply;
• Heating systems;
• Hot water supply;
• Technological pipelines for various purposes (transportation of waste or compressed air).

RE - polyethylene

Pipes made of plastic, and more specifically, polyethylene products are used to create internal and external pressure pipelines, for gutters and water mains. The lower temperature limit for the operation of such materials is -20 degrees. This factor must be taken into account when installing systems for both water transportation and cable laying.

Methods of connecting PE products:

• If the diameter is 20-63 mm, they are connected using brass and polypropylene fixing fittings or using electric welding couplings;
• If the diameter is 63-160 mm, they are joined by butt welding.

Modern enterprises produce plastic pipes HDPE and LDPE - plastic products of low and high pressure.

Note! Non-pressure PE materials with a diameter of 50-110 mm are often used to organize internal sewage systems.

PEX - crosslinked polyethylene

In order to create heat-resistant plastic pipes made of polyethylene, capable of withstanding high temperatures, the products are processed by high pressure in accordance with regulatory documentation. As a result of this treatment, additional bonds form between the molecules of the substance, called bridges.

This kind of processing is called stitching, and the polymer becomes cross-linked. During the installation process, such pipes cannot be connected using a welding iron.

In this case, only cold welding methods are applicable, such as:

1. Gluing;
2. Press fittings;
3. Compression methods.

To obtain the so-called cross-linked material, the following processing methods can be applied, and various types of materials will be obtained in accordance with:

• REH - peroxide method:
• PEXb - gas treatment with silane (toxic substances);
• PEXc - electron irradiation in the electromagnetic field;
• PEXd - treatment with nitrogen compounds.

Crosslinked PE can be used for water supply and heating. Installation of pipes is made using crimp fittings. PEX materials are widely used for creating warm floors, water-melting systems and fire extinguishing.

Note! To create a home heating system, pipes of this type are covered with diffusion materials in order to prevent the penetration of free oxygen into the system.

PEX-AL-PEX - from metal polymers

Compared to the rest, metal-plastic pipes are the youngest on the market. For the first time the production of such products was established in England. In essence, this type of products is approximately the same as the PEX pipe with the only difference that there is a layer of aluminum foil inside.

Note! The point of creating an aluminum layer inside the pipe was to reduce the coefficient of linear expansion.

In fact, metal pipes consist of the following layers:

• Cross-linked polyethylene;
• Glue for tight connection of polyethylene with the following layer;
• Welded overlap aluminum tube;
• Another layer of adhesive mass;
• Crosslinked polyethylene.

One of the main differences of products from metal-plastic is the ability to maintain its shape even when bending. This property opens up the possibility of using such a product for an open gasket.

Finally

Whatever plastic pipes you choose, they will certainly become an excellent material for building a home pipeline, which will serve faithfully for one year. The main thing in this business is to choose the type of products that is most suitable for solving the tasks.

A video in this article will reveal to you all the basic secrets of mounting systems from materials created from different types of plastic.