Foamed polyethylene pipe insulation is a material that is highly flexible and resistant to all kinds of mechanical damage. This protection is not afraid of exposure to gypsum, gasoline, oils, and lime. The surface is able to endure the temperature of the coolant, which can reach 90 degrees. The insulation is in the form of tubes that are installed on the main pipes of the system by a simple tension method. If pipe insulation is to be mounted on an already installed system, then it will be necessary to make a cut along a special longitudinal line. The resulting seams should be glued using a composition developed for this purpose. Due to the presence of a longitudinal section of the tube, it is possible to cut not only evenly, but also quite simply, ensuring quick and quick installation. The excellent characteristics of the described thermal insulation allow saving on heating, as well as reducing the final weight of structures, reducing the consumption of building materials.
Main Features
Pipe insulation is produced by extrusion of polyethylene granules. As a result, it is possible to obtain a structure that has small closed pores. The material contains a significant amount of air, which provides thermal insulation qualities. Products have high elasticity and flexibility. On sale you can find many sizes, while the length of the tubes is two meters. The color of the tubes is gray, and there is a mounting cut along the entire length. Pipe insulation of the described type can be used for pipelines made of steel and copper.
Destination
Products are used to protect cold pipelines that are located inside the building. The insulation function in this case is to prevent the formation of condensate. It should be noted that the latest phenomena can cause a reduction in the life of the pipeline. Insulation is also used in freezers, when there is a need to maintain an extremely low temperature of the carrier. Quite often, these products can also be found in the arrangement of hot water supply systems, which are located inside buildings. At the same time, the preservation of the initial temperature also acts as a task. If insulation is used outside of structures, it can prevent freezing. Among other things, this material can protect a person from the possibility of dangerous burns. Indoor use is allowed without additional recommendations, whileit is necessary to install insulation outside, protecting it from exposure to direct sunlight. In this case, the material can undergo exposure from -40 to +70 degrees. Humidity is allowed up to 100%. The temperature of the coolant in the pipeline can vary from -40 to +100 degrees.
Pros of use
If Termaflex pipe insulation is used, then you can be sure that the material is absolutely hygienic and safe for human he alth and the environment. It is completely inert, does not form dust and has no foreign smell. It can be used in facilities for various purposes, up to medical institutions and food industry buildings. This type of insulation is completely impervious to steam and water. It prevents the formation of fungus and resists decay. In addition, it is not necessary to protect the insulation, among other things, it is able to prevent corrosion, as well as the impact of concrete, cement, lime and gypsum mixtures on pipes. Pipe insulation "Thermaflex" reduces acoustic noise and reduces structural sounds that may occur during operation in the system. Installing the products is quite simple, they are economical in terms of labor costs, which is very much to the liking of the modern consumer. Such insulation is durable, its lifespan is much longer than that of the pipeline itself.
Installation features
Pipe insulationK-Flex should be installed after the surface has been thoroughly cleaned of grease and rust. Work should be carried out only on non-functioning equipment. It is necessary to ensure de-energization 24 hours before the start of installation work. If necessary, you can cut using a sharp knife for this. When laying, it is important to ensure absolute tightness. To do this, use a special glue "Energoflex".
Mounting on an uninstalled system
If you will use Energoflex pipe insulation, which is installed on a system that has not yet been installed, then you need to put the tubes on the pipes. When welding, be sure to protect the material from melting. After the seams have cooled, they should be cleaned and the insulating material should be advanced over them. At the final stage, the insulation is glued together at the ends. Conjugation of seams can be done using building brackets. In order to provide additional sealing of the joints, reinforced tape can be used. If the pipeline will be in the ground during operation, then it should be protected by a casing that will prevent damage caused by soil elements.
Pros and cons
Pipe insulation made of polyethylene has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, which indicates that the effective performance of its tasksmaterial is able to provide at a slight thickness. The described insulation has a fairly impressive mechanical strength to tensile forces, which is why after deformation the material restores its original shape quite well. No additional tools are required for installation. One of the important advantages of this heat insulator is its low cost, which is almost two times less compared to that of analog materials. This makes polyethylene foam cost-effective for large pipeline applications. However, one drawback can be identified. It is expressed in flammability. This makes it impossible to use this insulation at facilities that have high fire safety requirements.
Specifications
K-Flex ST pipe insulation has a density that can vary from 25 to 40 kg per cubic meter. Among other things, you can highlight the excellent elasticity, which lasts up to -80 degrees. This allows you to use this material on any pipes, no matter what shape they have. The highest tensile load that this insulation can withstand is 0.3 MPa, while the insulation has a dynamic modulus of elasticity, which is equivalent to 0.77 MPa. As for the compression ratio, which is maintained under external load, it is equal to 0.2. If you will be purchasing Rockwool pipe insulation, then you need to pay attention to the coefficientthermal conductivity, as a rule, this figure varies within 0.035 W / mk. As for the coefficient of vapor permeability, it is equal to 0.001 mg / MchPa. It is according to this indicator that the described insulation can be attributed to the class of materials that are completely vapor-tight. Pipe insulation made of foamed polyethylene absorbs water in the amount of 1.5% of its volume after being in water for a day. This indicator increases by tenths with an increase in the time of exposure to water. Thus, if a heater is placed in water for 28 days, it will absorb 1.9% of its weight.
Additional Features
The thickness of the material can vary from 6 to 20 millimeters. In this case, the intermediate values \u200b\u200bare equal to 9 and 13 millimeters. On sale you can find a great variety of standards for the diameter of the sleeve, this parameter ranges from 12 to 200 millimeters. In the industry, the most commonly used inner diameters are 100 and 150 millimeters. In the production process, in addition to the foamed reagent, all kinds of special additives are added to the ingredients, which are designed to give the final product the required characteristics, namely elasticity and fire resistance. As for the latter, the insulation is classified as moderately flammable.
Conclusion
If there is a need to prevent condensation or protect pipes from corrosion processes, then the pipe insulation described above should be used. By purchasing this material, you can not be afraid that it will be capable of causing harm. This isdue to the fact that this kind of insulation is made from environmentally friendly ingredients. It is for these reasons that in modern industry and in the arrangement of private pipelines, a heater of the type described above is used, which is inexpensive and has truly outstanding qualities.
