What are the advantages of plastic pipes compared to traditional pipes?
2013-11-05
Plastic buried pipes have been widely used abroad due to their many advantages over traditional buried pipes such as cast iron, steel, and cement pipes.Steel pipesand cement pipes. Strength and rigidity On the surface, the strength and rigidity of plastic buried pipes are not as good as that of cement pipes. In fact, plastic buried pipes are classified as "flexible pipes". When designed and installed correctly, plastic buried pipes share the load with the surrounding soil. Therefore, plastic buried pipes do not need to achieve the same strength and rigidity as "rigid pipes" like concrete pipes to meet the mechanical performance requirements for underground use. Hydraulic characteristics The inner wall of plastic pipes is smooth, resulting in low resistance and high water flow capacity. For the same diameter, plastic pipes can carry more water than concrete pipes. When the terrain is sloped, the diameter of plastic pipe can be reduced, leading to less construction work. Sealing performance Cement pipes have poor sealing performance; domestic flat joint concrete pipes rely solely on a layer of concrete for sealing at connections. It is difficult to ensure no leakage during construction. Additionally, since concrete pipe systems are rigid, any slight movement (such as uneven soil settlement) can cause damage at connections. Moreover, cement pipes use vulcanized rubber rings for sealing while plastic pipe connections use thermoplastic elastomer sealing rings. The former has a shorter lifespan than the latter, and there are strict requirements for connecting and sealing plastic pipes to minimize leakage. Service life and corrosion resistance Cement pipe has a lifespan of only 15 years while plastic pipe can last up to 50-100 years. Domestic sewage and rainwater are usually corrosive; industrial wastewater is even more corrosive. Using metal or cement underground drainage systems has poorer corrosion resistance compared to plastic piping. In some areas with highly corrosive outdoor environments—such as in Tanggu New District in Tianjin where land reclamation occurred—cement sewage pipelines were completely corroded by salt in seawater within three years and had to be replaced with plastic piping. Construction installation Plastic pipes are lightweight, long in length, have fewer joints, are easy to connect, allow for quick installation, and incur lower construction costs; their advantages become even more pronounced in urban areas or harsh natural conditions.
