PVC-U
PVC-U pressure pipes are manufactured from unplasticised polyvinyl chloride polymer (a thermoplastic material) using the extrusion process. PVC-U pipes were introduced into Australia in the early 1960's and is now widely accepted for use across many applications. Their high strength weight ratio together with exceptional resistance to corrosion or chemical attack make these pipelines ideal for major infrastructure applications.
Material Properties
| Property | Value & Unit |
| Density (Specific Gravity) | 1.47 |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 52MPa |
| Yield Strain | 5.5% |
| Compressive Strength | 66MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 3200MPa |
| Hardness Shore D | 85 |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.38 |
| Design Stress | ≤DN150=11.0 MPa >DN150=12.3 MPa |
| Ring Bending Modulus (50yrs) | 1200MPa |
| Property | Value & Unit |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 70 x 10-6/oC |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.138W/m.k |
| Specific heat | 1045 J/kg/oC |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | >70oC |
| Allowable Operation Temperature | 50oC |
Fire Resistance Properties
| Property | Value & Unit |
| Flammability | Will not support combustion |
| Ignitability-AS 1530* | 7 |
| Smoke Development - AS 1530* | 9 |
| Spread of flame - AS 1530 * | 0 |
| Heat evolved - AS 1530* | 2 |
*AWTA Product Testing, test repot" number 7-558788-CV
Electrical Properties
| Property | Value & Unit |
| Volume resistivity | 1016 ohm.cm (60% RH) |
| Superface resistivity | 1013 - 1014ohm |
| Power factor | 0.015 - 0.020 at 20 0C |
| Dielectric constant | 3.4 - 3.6 at 250C(60 HZ) |
PVC-U pipes are suitable for service temperatures between 0°C and 50°C. For temperatures above 20°C, provision must be made for pressure re-rating in accordance with the table below:
Thermal re-rating factors*
| Maximum service temperature (°C) | Multiplication factor for pressure re-rating |
| 20 | 1.00 |
| 25 | 0.94 |
| 30 | 0.87 |
| 35 | 0.78 |
| 40 | 0.70 |
| 45 | 0.64 |
| 50 | 0.58 |
*Based on ISO 4422-2 Pipes and fittings made of un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) for water supply Part 2: Pipes (with or without integral sockets)
PVC-U pipes have high resistance to a wide range of chemical reagents. Such resistance, however, is a function of temperature, concentration and pressure.
In general, PVC-U is suitable to convey strong acids, alkalis and aqueous solutions (except those which are strongly oxidising), aliphatic hydrocarbons, fluorides, photographic and plating solutions, brine, mineral oils, fats and alcohols. The suitability of a pipeline for conveying a certain chemical will depend on such factors as the concentration of the chemical in the fluid to be conveyed, temperature, flow rate, the presence of pockets or “dead spots” in the pipeline and other factors.