hot and cold

Hot and cold water pipes, sometimes referred to as domestic pipes, are most commonly used in building and construction.

Typical requirements
Lifetime: a minimum of 50 years
Pressure: p: 2-10 bar
Temperature: 20-90°C (malfunction temperatures 95-100°C, thermal stability up to 110°C)
Outside diameter: 12-50 mm

Environment
Good hot and cold water pipes are impermeable, preventing any contamination of water carried by the pipes from the surrounding soil. The choice of resin is a key factor in ensuring such high environmental performance, and plastic pipes are experiencing positive substitution for copper, for example, across Europe. Concern over the safety of drinking water and decline in water quality has been attributed to corrosion of old pipes systems. Hygiene, cost effectiveness, and zero-corrosion of plastic pipes provide a clear advantage in water delivery systems.

Applications and relevant Dow resins
Exciting new developments in PE-RT (Polyethylene of Raised Temperature Resistance), such as Dow's successful range of DOWLEX* PE Resins, have made this the fastest growing resin overall in the market today. PE-RT is playing a vital role in advances for the future, including five-layer, all-plastic composites which are set to transform the hot and cold water pipe market. One-step PE-RT processes provide an economically viable option for this new technology. The resin provides an advantage for processors who want to stay one step ahead of competitors.

Our resins for hot and cold water pipes are best used in the following applications:
  • Floor heating pipes
  • Sanitary or plumbing pipes
  • Radiator connection pipes
  • Wall heating pipes
  • Snow-melt system pipes.

All of these applications use our popular DOWLEX PE Resin, which has a more than 20-year proven track record for delivering outstanding performance. Pipes manufactured using DOWLEX PE Resins are designed to have a lifetime of more than 50 years and are compliant with most drinking water regulations in Europe. The resins have inherent toughness and outstanding flexibility with excellent long-term hydrostatic strength, and are highly resistant to environmental stress cracking.

Visit Adhesives for Hot & Cold Water Pipes or PE-RT Multilayer Pipes for more information.


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