Comprehensive comparison of the material properties of aluminum-plastic pipes, PP-R pipes, and PE pipes
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Aluminum-plastic pipes, PE pipes, and PP-R pipes, which are commonly used in the home decoration market, exhibit significant differences in performance due to variations in their materials and manufacturing processes. 1. In terms of connection method, aluminum-plastic pipes use physical connections, which are simple and convenient; unless misused, they offer a very high level of safety and reliability. PE and PP-R are connected by heat fusion or electrofusion; these processes are complex, and they can lead to the formation of defect areas due to material accumulation, which in turn causes stress concentration and affects the long-term performance of the pipes ； Furthermore, the local high temperatures generated by the fusing fuse can easily promote the degradation of the pipe material, accelerating pipe aging. 2. In terms of long-term hygiene performance, the aluminum layer in aluminum-plastic pipes prevents oxygen from penetrating, which reduces the risk of microbial and algal growth. Generally, antioxidants can be added to the outer PE layer without causing contamination of the water inside the pipe. PE pipes and PP-R pipes, on the other hand, cannot prevent oxygen from entering, allowing microorganisms and algae to thrive and compromising the hygiene of drinking water ； It also contains large amounts of antioxidants, which can easily cause water pollution. 3. In terms of aging resistance, aluminum-plastic pipes have a stable molecular structure; the PE layers are separated from each other, and sufficient light-resistant and antioxidant stabilizers can be added to the outer layer without affecting the hygiene of the inner layer that comes into contact with water ； PE pipes have a stable molecular structure, but their single-layer structure makes it difficult to add stabilizers, which can lead to secondary contamination of the water inside the pipes ； PP-R pipes contain a large number of unstable tertiary carbon atoms, making them prone to aging due to exposure to light, oxygen, and impurities. 4. In terms of high-temperature resistance, the national standards for aluminum-plastic pipes specify a long-term operating temperature of 95°C and a maximum operating temperature of 110°C, which is more than sufficient to meet the needs of household water use ； The performance of PE pipes declines rapidly as the temperature rises, and they are only suitable for transporting cold water ； According to the national standards for PP-R, the long-term operating temperature is 70°C, with a maximum operating temperature of 95°C; this imposes certain limitations on its use in hot water pipes.
Now PPR aluminum-plastic composite pipes have emerged, which are somewhat better than the previous PE aluminum-plastic composite pipes
Aluminum-plastic composite pipe fittings are prone to leakage and cannot be buried, which is why they are rarely used in homes and construction projects these days. PE and PPR are easy to work with; ordinary plumbers can master their use after simple training. PPR is generally installed using a concealed method, so there is no issue of UV aging. After being tested at 110°C, 1.0 MPa for 8760 hours, PPR pipes prove to have satisfactory heat resistance. However, some manufacturers in China use substandard materials, which may prevent them from achieving a service life of 50 years; still, their lifespan is much longer than that of aluminum-plastic pipes.
Hehe, there’s some truth to both. At the moment, PPR pipes seem to be used more often, so personally I lean towards using PPR pipes more.
We have just laid 500 meters of PE pipes at our construction site. The manufacturer says they will last 50 years, but I think 20 years is sufficient; I don’t believe in a longer lifespan!
Aluminum-plastic pipes are good, but I often hear about them bursting, and their cost is relatively high. I haven’t heard of any problems with PPR.
For plastic pipes, attention should be paid to their oil resistance. That is, ESCR’s ability to resist environmental stress, so as to avoid cracking due to environmental influences.