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