Polypropylene pipe reinforced with fiberglass: which lead to overheating of the gasoline or diesel engine
When installing hot water pipelines or heating systems, the question often arises of finding an alternative to expensive pipes made of copper and other metals. Polypropylene products are best suited as their analogue. But conventional polypropylene structures have many disadvantages. Therefore, modern manufacturers have begun to produce another type of PP pipes - products with fiberglass reinforcement.
Reinforced PP pipes are one of the best options for installing heating systems
Advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene pipes
Solid polypropylene pipes, for which PPR marking is accepted on the market, surpass plastic and metal products in many criteria. They are inexpensive, strong and light. Transportation of products from this type of plastic to the place of work can be done by yourself. Installation of such systems does not require special skills and professional equipment. Polypropylene tolerates low temperatures: its structure is not disturbed even after freezing and thawing of water in the pipeline.
With it, solid polypropylene products also have characteristics, not the best way to affect their performance. In the first place, this is a fairly low melting point. Polypropylene begins to melt in the factory under 175 degrees. This plastic can become soft when 130-140 degrees.
It would seem, at a stable temperature in the heating system, equal to 90-95 degrees, this limitation may be disregarded. But do not forget, that with a combination of factors of high pressure and high temperature in the system, the effect of hot water affects the stability of the material much more significantly. Therefore, the loss of integrity of polypropylene in sections of the pipeline during pressure drops is likely.
Reinforced pipes are stronger and more resistant to temperature changes than conventional ones
Also, polypropylene has the ability to significantly expand under thermal action. Usually there is a deformation in length: the pipes are stretched, waves appear on their surface. This phenomenon is undesirable not only for aesthetic reasons. In those cases, when polypropylene pipes are sunk under the floor screed or laid in the wall covering, a change in the physical volume of the structure will lead to cracking of cement and plaster.
Polypropylene pipes, reinforced with fiberglass or aluminum can if not completely eliminate plastic defects, then at least an order of magnitude to improve their characteristics. The reinforced layer allows to use pipes safely in any systems of heating and water supply.
Which polypropylene pipes are better: reinforced with fiberglass or aluminum?
Two types of reinforcement are used to increase the strength of polypropylene pipes: using aluminum foil and fiberglass. Aluminum sheet can be perforated, can cover the product from the outside or be in the middle of the pipe between two layers of polypropylene. A layer of fiberglass is always placed inside a polypropylene pipe.
If the pressure in the future pipeline will be high, it is better to use pipes, equipped with a layer of aluminum
Wrinkle! Aluminum reinforcement increases the ability of the pipe to withstand high internal pressure. If you do not know exactly, what are the characteristics of the pressure in the mounted system, it is better to buy pipes with an aluminum frame.
Products with aluminum reinforcement (PPR-AL-PPR marking) have high rigidity, perfectly withstand loads and are not subject to deformation. The layer of aluminum is from 0,1 to 0,5 mm depending on the diameter of the structure. Aluminum foil is bonded to the base material with glue. If poor quality glue was used in the production, pipes can stratify. Aluminum-reinforced propylene pipes, made technologically correct, do not lose tightness over time.
Presence of reinforcement by aluminum provides carrying out additional operations in installation. Before soldering the aluminum layer must be cleaned. Without stripping, the pipeline will soon cease to function. Firstly, this will happen due to the delamination of foil and plastic during melting; secondly, due to the destruction of aluminum due to electrochemical processes in the system.
The peculiarity of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass is, that the reinforcing layer in this case is very similar in composition and properties to the base material. When welding with a fitting, polypropylene and fiberglass form a strong alloy, not prone to delamination. Therefore, polypropylene pipes, reinforced with fiberglass, can be called more universal, simple and, the main thing, durable option.
Characteristics of polypropylene pipes, reinforced with fiberglass
Fiberglass is a more modern type of reinforcement, than aluminum foil. Pipes, reinforced with such material, have a three-layer design.
The reinforcing layer of fiberglass is located in the middle of the pipes - between the layers of polypropylene
And the inner layer, performing the function of reinforcement, is the same polypropylene, but with the addition of fiber - fiberglass. The characteristics of the strength of adhesion of fiberglass to plastic is almost equal to the monolith. Polypropylene pipes, reinforced with fiberglass, have such markings: PPR-FB-PPR.
This type of reinforced pipe has many positive properties:
- no likelihood of corrosion in the system;
- the walls of polypropylene pipes are very smooth, which prevents the formation of deposits;
- products have high strength, do not deform under the action of heat;
- well tolerate chemical and biochemical influences;
- are characterized by low hydraulic resistance, therefore, the pressure loss in the system will be insignificant;
- have soundproofing properties;
- do not change the composition of water, do not emit substances, harmful to humans.
Fiberglass, essentially, plays the role of a framework, which prevents polypropylene from expanding under certain conditions. Fiber fibers do not affect the performance of the pipeline system, but only improve its characteristics. The approximate service life of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass is more than 50 years.
Wrinkle! Characteristics of polypropylene pipes, reinforced with fiberglass, inferior to pipes with aluminum frame, apparently, only in one case. The stiffness of fiberglass products is much lower, therefore for systems, having a length of more than 1,5 m, it is necessary to use special fasteners for walls. Otherwise the pipeline will be deformed due to sagging.
Reinforced pipes must be fastened with special clips or clamps, placing them strictly over a certain distance
Pipes with reinforcement from fiberglass of various diameters are issued. When choosing the right size you need to consider the purpose of the pipeline. Models with a smaller diameter 17 mm are applied to laying of heat-insulated floors, 20 mm - for home hot water supply systems. Diameter from 20-25 mm is used to install heating equipment in public places, as well as for the installation of sewer risers. The method of fastening pipes also depends on diameter: plastic clips are suitable for small ones, for large it is better to use clamps.
Methods of installation of polypropylene pipes with fiberglass
Installation of pipes with reinforcing from fiberglass does not differ from connection of integral products from polypropylene. There are three methods of mounting reinforced structures:
- with the use of threaded fittings;
- cold welding (glued couplings);
- diffuse welding.
The connection with threaded fittings is made by means of a circular crimp of the mounting nut. The pipe is attached to the fitting fitting and is pressed with effort. The connection is very tight, and spoil the details in the workflow is almost impossible. This method can be used even in pressure piping systems. The only thing, with which there may be difficulties, this is the force of pressure on the fitting. Excessive pressure can cause the nut to burst.
Cold welding, in which the connection is made using a special adhesive composition, does not provide sufficient reliability of the joint. In this case, polypropylene couplings are used, on the inner part of which glue is applied. Then a piece of pipe is inserted into the coupling and the structure is held in one position for some time, to make the glue stick.
The method of diffusion welding is not inferior to the strength of screwing. The disadvantage of this technology is, that it requires an additional tool - a welding machine. The temperature for soldering is calculated depending on the diameter of the pipe and its wall thickness.
Polypropylene pipes with fiberglass reinforcement today are ideal for home heating and plumbing systems. Inexpensive and high quality, they are devoid of significant shortcomings, and therefore perfectly solve problems of products from integral polypropylene and successfully replace usual metalwork.
