Plastics and Chemicals

PE 100 pipes are used both for drinking water and gas supply (as well as for the disposal of municipal wastewater).  Very positive operating results have been achieved for these applications especially because of the resistance of polyethylene to corrosion.  The pipes are standardised in European standards and are certified in Germany via the DVGW (the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water).

PE 100 pipes are also used for industrial applications.  Whether the polyethylene material is resistant to the material being transported is tabulated (e.g. in the supplementary sheet to DIN 8075).  It is specified in this standard that PE-HD (as generic term, PE 100 is a PE-HD) has only qualified resistance to technically pure (i.e. almost 100%) benzene.  Over time the benzene can permeate the polyethylene and cause swelling, which in turn leads to weakening of the mechanical characteristic values.  A PE 100 pipe can therefore only be operated at a reduced internal pressure.  The reduction factor must be determined from case to case for the concentration at hand.

SLA® Barrier Pipe (Drinking water pipe with Barrier layer)

The impermeability of the pipe material must also be taken into consideration in addition to the resistance of the material. Ever since starting to use polyethylene pipes it has been known that these are not permanently diffusion-resistant to benzene. The impermeability of the pipe material must be taken into consideration in addition to the resistance of the material.. The time at which the first molecules permeate through the pipe wall and the quantities of permeation will depend in each case on the concentrations and operating temperature.

Against this background egeplast developed the SLA® Barrier Pipe in the 1980s. This polyethylene pipe contains an aluminium barrier layer, and is therefore designed like a Tetra Pak. This impermeable PE pipe has been approved in the Dutch KIWA rules and standards for the installation of drinking water pipes in contaminated soils with a concentration of up to 1780 mg/l benzene in the area of the pipe.

3L Leak Control (Sewer pipe with Barrier layer and Leak Control)