©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material

2 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material

• To select the proper plastic piping material, conditions of service for the liquid to be handled and the suitability of the materials for those service conditions must be known. Listed is a summary and example of selecting the proper plastic piping material.

3 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Service Conditions Check List • Type Application• Type Fluid(s)• Working Pressure (min/max)• Working Temperature (min/max)• Velocity (max)• Specific Gravity• Viscosity• Particulates

• Piping Size Range

• Above- or Below-ground Installation• Interior/Exterior Exposure• Specific Code Agencies/Approvals• Fluid-handling Products In Fluid Contact

4 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

TIPS Material Selection • Chemical Compatibility• Pressure/Temperature Compatibility• Piping Size and Product Availability• Piping System Joining Method • Price Comparability

5 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example – Service Conditions

Service Conditions

Application: Metal Ore Smeltering

Fluid: Sulfuric Acid, 70% concentration

Working Pressure: 50-105 psi

Working Temperature: 70-130°F

Velocity: Less than 3 ft/sec

Specific Gravity: 1.57

Viscosity: 60 ssu

Particulates: minimal

Piping Sizes: ½ - 6”

Installation: Above ground

Exposure: Interior

Code Agencies: Standard

Required Fluid-handling Equipment:

Pipe / Fitting / Valve / Pump

* Conditions depicted in bold are major selection criteria for this application.

6 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example – Chemical Compatibility

Partial Chemical Resistance Chart

Chemical PVC CPVC PP PVDF PE

Temperature (°F) 70 140 70 140 185 70 150 180 70 150 250 70 140

Sulfuric acid, 50% R R R R R R R NR R R R R —

Sulfuric acid, 60% R R R R R R R NR R R R R —

Sulfuric acid, 70% R R R R R R NR NR R R R R —

Sulfuric acid, 80% R R R R R R NR NR R R — R NR

Sulfuric acid, 90% R NR R R R R NR NR R R — R NR

Sulfuric acid, 93% R NR R R NR R NR NR R R — R NR

Sulfuric acid, 100% NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR — NR NR

R = Recommended — = No information available NR = Not Recommended

Service Conditions

Fluid: Sulfuric Acid, 70% concentration

Working Temperature: 70-130°F

7 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Maximum Operating Pressure Ratings(psi) of Schedule 80 Piping / Fittings @ 73°F

Nom. Pipe Size (in.) PVC / CPVC PE (SDR 11) PP PVDF

3 370 160 190 250

4 320 160 160 220

6 280 160 140 190

Example – Pressure Compatibility

Service Conditions

Working Pressure: 50-105 psi

Working Temperature: 70-130°F

Piping Sizes: ½ - 6”

Temperature Correction Factor for Piping

Temp. (°F) CPVC PE PP PVC PVDF

110 .77 .74 .80 .50 .75

120 .70 .63 .75 .40 .68

130 .62 .57 .68 .30 .62

CPVC0.62(280) = 174 psi

PVC0.30(280) = 84 psi(system max. is 105 psi)

PVDF0.62(190) = 118 psi

8 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example – Joining System

Results of Previous Tests

CPVC PE PP PVC PVDF

Chemical Compatibility

Pressure/Temp. Compatibility

Product Availability

CPVC PVDF

Joining System

CPVC = Solvent CementingPVDF = Heat Fusion

9 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example – Cost Comparison

Estimates of 100-ft, 6-in Pipelines for Various Materials*

Materials Piping Costs ($) Ratio CS

PVC Sch. 80 11,499 0.50

CPVC Sch. 80 18,932 0.83

Carbon Steel Sch. 40 22,789 1.00

St. Steel 304L Sch. 40 45,835 2.01

Aluminum alloy 303 Sch. 40 48,134 2.11

St. Steel 316L Sch. 40 49,355 2.17

Copper 50,473 2.21

PVDF Sch. 80 63,945 2.81

Titanium Sch. 40 132,804 6.11

Alloy 200 Sch. 40 150,188 6.59

Zirconium Sch. 40 159,382 6.99* Adapted from Chemical Processing, June 1999

10 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example – Results

Results of Previous Tests

CPVC PE PP PVC PVDF

Chemical Compatibility

Pressure/Temp. Compatibility

Cost Comparison

Selected Material

CPVC

11 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

Example Addendum

• If sulfuric acid concentration were 93%, only PVDF would be selected

• If sulfuric acid concentration were 60% and the maximum temperature were 120°F, both CPVC and PP would be considered

• If maximum temperature did not exceed 110°F, both PE and PVC would be considered

12 - Selecting the Proper Plastic Piping Material ©2003, 2004, 2005 - Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association

TIPS are...

• Environmentally sound• Easy and safe to install• Reliable• Long-lasting• Cost-effective