What is the difference between polybutylene and polyethylene

Though, PEX pipe are still acceptable in many countries, as it promises the long lasting features that help people save their money and time. PEX vs Copper - Comparing plumbing pipes. Generally there are two different types of plastic pipes — PEX Cross-linked Polyethylene PB Polybutylene Both of these pipes have many differences that make both of them, exceptional and one of their own kind.

Add to Cart. Add to Wish List. Due to the low cost of the material and ease of installation, polybutylene piping systems were viewed as "the pipe of the future" and were used as a substitute for traditional copper piping. Gray is polybutylene. PEX is either milky, or red. Church, executive director of the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association. Uponor Wirsbo said its PEX pipe was introduced in California in and that the product helps solve problems in areas with aggressive soil conditions that copper pipe cannot solve.

Currently, insurance companies are refusing to insure houses with polybutylene pipes. The reason for this is simple. Many homes have replaced their polybutylene piping with PEX piping. Homes still having polybutylene pipes are at risk of property damage. This adds additional time and cost to the plumbing installation, as well as a greater opportunity for leaks.

The inner pipe for drinking water is made of a plastic called cross-linked polyethylene PEX. There are no health risks associated with drinking water from PEX pipes. A few types of PEX -pipe may cause prolonged undesirable taste and odour if the water remains in pipes over time. When a connection to copper or other metal pipes is required, PEX works better than PVC because crosslinked polyethylene won't corrode. However, balance this factor against the lower labor cost to install PEX. While the crosslinking process does provide PEX slightly higher chlorine resistance than polybutylene due to a reduction in the number of vulnerable chemical bonds, a wide array of chlorine-induced failures of PEX piping have been documented throughout the United States over the last decade.

Hot water PEX piping shows chlorine degradation just two years after installation. In addition to concerns with chlorine-induced degradation, the polymer structure of PEX makes it vulnerable to other concerns, including water quality , permeation and biofilm growth potentia l.

Another polyolefin plastic material that has been used in domestic plumbing systems is polypropylene. It shares many of the same issues common to polyolefin materials while also introducing some new challenges. Like PEX and polybutylene, it is not resistant to chlorine degradation. In fact, it can erode in hot chlorinated water systems, causing pieces of material to flake off and clog fixtures and appliances.

Polypropylene is not as ductile as other polyolefin plastics, meaning that it cannot readily be expanded or crimped like the other polyolefin materials.

Due to this limitation a heat fusion technique is necessary to join polypropylene pipes. This method can be especially difficult in tight spaces and requires welding, which introduces a burn hazard and adds time to the installation process. Straight lengths of Hep 2 O Standard and Barrier pipe are supplied in 3m lengths in 15mm, 22mm and 28mm diameters. Straight pipe is just as flexible as coiled pipe and is primarily intended for exposed pipework where neatness is vital or where only a short length of pipe is required.

Polybutylene, in comparison, is cured on massive drums, and the plastic memory means that when you uncoil it is lays flatter, as seen in the image below. Hep 2 O pipe is all PB.