PLASTIC OR SYNTHETIC

PIPES

SALVADOR, KENNETH D.
HERUELA, CLINTON JAY
 PLASTIC

• A plastic material is any of a wide range

of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic
solids that are moldable. Plastics are
typically organic polymers of high
molecular mass, but they often contain
other substances. They are usually
synthetic, most commonly derived
from petrochemicals, but many are
partially natural.
 HISTORY

• Early plastics were bio-derived materials

such as egg and blood proteins, which are
organic polymers. Treated cattle horns
were used as windows for lanterns in the
Middle Ages. Materials that mimicked the
properties of horns were developed by
treating milk-proteins (casein) with lye.
- In the 1800s the development of plastics
accelerated with Charles Goodyear's
discovery of vulcanization as a route to
thermoset materials derived from natural
rubber. Many storied materials were
reported as industrial chemistry was
developed in the 1800s.
 - In the early 1900s, Bakelite, the first fully
synthetic thermoset was reported by Belgian
chemist Leo Baekeland. After the First
World War, improvements in chemical
technology led to an explosion in new forms
of plastics.
- Among the earliest examples in the wave
of new polymers were polystyrene (PS) and
polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The development
of plastics has come from the use of natural
plastic materials (e.g., chewing
gum, shellac) to the use of chemically
modified natural materials
(e.g., rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, galalit
e) and finally to completely synthetic
molecules (e.g., bakelite, epoxy, polyvinyl
chloride).
 PLASTIC OR SYNTHETIC PIPES

• Plastic pipe is a new concept in the field of

plumbing. It was introduced in the Philippines at
the earl part of 70’s, although this type of
materials was developed in Germany in the mid
year of 1935.
TYPES OF PLASTIC PIPES

• THE RIGID TYPE

• THE FLEXIBLE TYPE
THE RIGID TYPE
 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - commonly abbreviated PVC,
is the third-most widely produced plastic, after
polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is used
in construction because it is cheaper than more durable
longer lasting alternatives such as ductile iron. It can be
made softer and more flexible by the addition
of plasticizers, the most widely used being phthalates. In
this form, it is used in clothing and upholstery, electrical
cable insulation, inflatable products and many
applications in which it replaces rubber. Pure polyvinyl
chloride without any plasticizer is a white, brittle solid. It
is insoluble in alcohol, but slightly soluble
in tetrahydrofuran.
 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
• Elongation at break: 20–40%
• Notch test: 2–5 kJ/m2
• Glass temperature: 82 °C
• Melting point: 100–260 °C
• Effective heat of combustion: 17.95 MJ/kg
• Specific heat (c): 0.9 kJ/(kg·K)
• Water absorption (ASTM): 0.04–0.4
• Dielectric Breakdown Voltage: 40 MV/m
 CHLORINATED POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE
• Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is
a thermoplastic produced by chlorination of polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) resin. Uses include hot and cold water
pipe, and industrial liquid handling. CPVC can withstand
corrosive water at temperatures greater than PVC,
typically 40°C to 50°C (104°F to 122°F) or higher,
contributing to its popularity as a material for water
piping systems in residential as well as commercial
construction.
 CHLORINATED POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE
• Density: 1.56 g/cm3
• Young's modulus (E): 2.9-3.4 
• GPaTensile strength(σt) - 50-80 MPa
• Elongation @ break: 20-40%
• Notch test: 2-5 kJ/m2
• Glass temperature: 106 - 115 °C
• Melting point: 212 °C
• Vicat B: 106 to 115 °C
• Thermal conductivity (k): 0.16 W/(m·K)
• Linear Expansion Coefficient (α): 8 x 10−5 /K
• Specific heat (c): 0.9 kJ/(kg·K)
• Water absorption (ASTM): 0.04-0.4
 UNPLASTICIZED POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE
• uPVC or rigid PVC is extensively used in
the building industry as a low-maintenance
material, particularly in Ireland, the United
Kingdom, and in the United States. In the
USA it is known as vinyl, or vinyl siding.
 Advantages
• Offers less resistance to flow than conventional pipes
resulting in minimal flow loss.
• Imparts neither taste nor odor.

• Non-toxic.

• Exceptional resistance to attack from all concentrations

of alkalis and high concentrations of acids.
• Immune to all types of corrosion experienced in
underground piping systems.

• Non-conductive, galvanic and electrochemical meaning

corrosion effects are non-existent.
 Disadvantages

• Difficult to melt process, requires

modification.  Limited solvent stress
cracking resistance.  Becomes brittle at (c
5°C (40°F) ) unless impact modified.  Low
continuous service temperature of 50°C
(120°F).
 ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE
STYRENE
• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a
common thermoplastic. Its glass
transition temperature (ABS is amorphous and
therefore has no true melting point) is
approximately 105 °C (221 °F).
 ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE
STYRENE
• Excellent resistance (no attack) to Glycerine, Inorganic
Salts, Alkalis, Many Acids, Most Alcohols and
Hydrocarbons.
• Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for
short term use only) to Weak Acids.
• Poor resistance (not recommended for use with) Strong
Acids and Solvents, Ketones, Baldheads, Esters, and
some Chlorinated Hydrocarbons.
 ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE
STYRENE
• Maximum Temperature: 176°F 80°C
• Minimum Temperature: -4°F -20°C
• Autoclavable: No
• Melting Point: 221°F 105°C
• Tensile Strength: 4,300 psi
• Hardness: R110
• UV Resistance: Poor
• Translucent
• Rigid
• Specific Gravity: 1.04
 POLYPROPYLENE
• Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is
a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of
applications including packaging and
labeling, textiles (e.g., ropes, thermal underwear and
carpets), stationery, plastic parts and reusable
containers of various types, laboratory
equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components,
and polymer banknotes. An addition polymer made from
the monomer propylene, it is rugged and unusually
resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids.
 POLYPROPYLENE
• Excellent resistance (no attack) to dilute and
concentrated Acids, Alcohols, Bases and Mineral Oils
• Good resistance (minor attack) to Aldehydes, Esters,
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Ketones and Vegetable Oils
• Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for
short term use only) to Aromatic and Halogenated
Hydrocarbons and Oxidizing Agents
 POLYPROPYLENE
• Maximum Temperature: 275°F 135°C
• Minimum Temperature: 32°F 0°C
• Autoclavable: Yes
• Melting Point: 338°F 170°C
• Tensile Strength: 4,500 psi
• Hardness: R95
• UV Resistance: Poor
• Translucent
• Rigid
• Specific Gravity: 0.90
 STYRENE RUBBER PLASTIC

• A plastic-rubber mixture consisting of at

least 50% of a styrene plastic combined
with rubber and various compounding
ingredients.
THE FLEXIBLE TYPES
 POLYETHYLENE

• Polyethylene (abbreviated PE) or polythene is

the most common plastic. The annual production
is approximately 80 million metric tons. Its
primary use is within packaging (plastic
bag, plastic films, geomembranes, containers
including bottles, etc.). Many kinds of
polyethylene are known, but they almost always
have the chemical formula (C2H4)nH2. Thus PE
is usually a mixture of similar organic
compound that differ in terms of the value of n.
 Low-density
polyethylene (LDPE)
• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is
a thermoplastic made from
the monomer ethylene. It was the first grade of
polyethylene, produced in 1933 by Imperial
Chemical Industries (ICI) using a high pressure
process via free radical polymerization. Its
manufacture employs the same method today.
LDPE is commonly recycled [citation needed]
and has the number "4" as its recycling symbol.
Despite competition from more modern
polymers, LDPE continues to be an important
plastic grade.
 - The first of the polyolefins, Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE) was originally prepared some
fifty years ago by the high pressure polymerization
of ethylene. Its comparatively low density arises
from the presence of a small amount of branching
in the chain (on about 2% of the carbon atoms).
This gives a more open structure. Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE) is a most useful and widely
used plastic especially in dispensing
bottles or wash bottles.
- It is translucent to opaque, robust enough to be
virtually unbreakable and at the same time quite
flexible. Chemically LDPE is unreactive at room
temperature although it is slowly attacked by
strong oxidizing agents and some solvents will
cause softening or swelling. It may be used at
temperatures up to 95° Celsius for short periods
and at 80° Celsius continuously. LDPE is ideally
suited for a wide range of molded laboratory
apparatus including wash bottles, pipette washing
equipment, general purpose
tubing, bags and small tanks.
 POLYETHYLENE
• Excellent resistance (no attack) to dilute and
concentrated Acids, Alcohols, Bases and Esters.
• Good resistance (minor attack) to Aldehydes, Ketones
and Vegetable Oils.
• Limited resistance (moderate attack suitable for short
term use only) to Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons,
Mineral Oils and Oxidizing Agents.
• Poor resistance and not recommended for use with
Halogenated Hydrocarbons.
 POLYETHYLENE
• Maximum Temperature: 176°F 80°C
• Minimum Temperature: -58°F -50°C
• Autoclavable: No
• Melting Point: 248°F 120°C
• Tensile Strength: 1700 psi
• Hardness: SD55
• UV Resistance: Poor
• Translucent
• Excellent flexibility
• Specific Gravity: 0.92
 High-density
polyethylene (HDPE)
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is
a polyethylene thermoplastic made
from petroleum. It takes 1.75 kilograms of
petroleum (in terms of energy and raw
materials) to make one kilogram of HDPE.
HDPE is commonly recycled, and has the
number "2" as its recycling symbol.
- A linear polymer, High Density Polyethylene
(HDPE) is prepared from ethylene by a catalytic
process. The absence of branching results in a
more closely packed structure with a higher density
and somewhat higher chemical resistance than
LDPE. HDPE is also somewhat harder and more
opaque and it can withstand rather higher
temperatures (120° Celsius for short periods, 110°
Celsius continuously). 
- High density polyethylene lends itself particularly
well to blow molding, e.g. for bottles, cutting
boards, dipping
baskets, dippers, trays and containers. Dynalab
Corp's plastic fabrication shop fabricates
thousands of catalog and custom acrylic products.
 High-density
polyethylene (HDPE)
• Excellent resistance (no attack) to dilute and
concentrated Acids, Alcohols and Bases.
• Good resistance (minor attack) to Aldehydes, Esters,
Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Ketones and
Mineral and Vegetable Oils.
• Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for
short term use only) to Halogenated Hydrocarbons and
Oxidizing Agents.
 High-density
polyethylene (HDPE)
• Maximum Temperature: 248°F 120°C
• Minimum Temperature: -148°F -100°C
• Autoclavable: No
• Melting Point: 266°F 130°C
• Tensile Strength: 4550 psi 
• Hardness: SD65
• UV Resistance: Poor
• Translucent
• Rigid
• Specific Gravity: 0.95
ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC PIPE

• Plastic pipe is more resistant to rust and corrosion.

• Water conveyed by plastic pipe has no pipe tastes.
• The extreme smooth interior surface prevents the
buildup of scale, rust, and foreign material that often
impedes flow through metallic pipes.
• There is no turbulence of water and therefore, has a
minimum resistance to flow.
• PVC pipe and fittings weighs about 1/5 of the metal
pipe. They about quickly installed through solvent
cementing.
ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC PIPE
• Plastic pipes are cast in longer length and easy to cut
as well as install.
• The Polyethylene (PE) pipe is flexible material that
weighs about 1/8 as much as the steel pipe. For
instance, a 100 meters 25 mm diameter coil plastic
pipe could be easily carried by one individual
compared with metal pipes having the same length
and diameter which could be hardly carried by 5
person.
• PVC pipe can be connected to existing metal pipe
using a threaded adapter.
ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC PIPE

• PVC is virtually acid proof to any chemical used in

recommended strengths around the home.
• No special tools are needed for installing PVC except
a rule to measure and saw to cut.
• The best reason at all. – You can do it yourself.
 PIPE FITTING

• Pipe fitting is the occupation of installing

or repairing piping or tubing systems that
convey liquid, gas, and occasionally solid
materials. This work involves selecting and
preparing pipe or tubing, joining it together
by various means, and the location and
repair of leaks.
 SUPPORT

• PVC and CPVU installation must be

supported when hanging from ceiling,
rafters or floor joists. The distances
recommended between are presented in
the following table.
Diameter of Diameter of Hanger
Pipe Inches Pipe mm Distance in
Meter
½” 12 1.00
¾” 18 1.20
1” 25 1.50
1 ¼” 31 1.80
1 ½” 37 2.20
2” 50 2.50
3” 75 2.80
4” 100 3.00
 The Model Codes that
Approved the Use of Plastic
Pipe for Plumbing Systems
are:
• The National Standard Plumbing Code.
• Building Officials and Code Administration
International.
• National Associations of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling,
Contractors.
• Southern Standard Plumbing Code.
• Southern Building Code Congress.
• Uniform Standard Plumbing Code.
• International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials.
THE END