When building or repairing, everyone tries to use the most reliable, strong and durable materials indoors. After all, no one wants to open communications for repair in the event of an emergency breakdown. Therefore, in heating systems, plumbing and other areas, a metal-plastic pipe is often used. It is durable and highly durable. What kind of pipe is this, how is it arranged and how to choose it correctly? We will talk about this in our today's article.
Characteristic
Metal-plastic pipe is a universal industrial product used for laying plumbing and heating systems.
Thanks to the combination of two components (metal and polymer), engineers managed to create a design that is not afraid of high temperature loads and other negative influences.
Benefits
The main advantages of this design are:
- High service life.
- Low thermal conductivity. Such metal-plastic pipes have zero heat transfer, which is why they are often used for laying hot water pipes.
- Resistant to high temperatures.
- Tightness. Metal-plastic pipe 20 mm does not let light and oxygen through.
- Frost resistance. The design does not deform even at -50 degrees Celsius.
- Corrosion resistance. Unlike steel counterparts, such structures do not rust at all.
- No thermal expansion.
- Scale resistance.
Design
Whatever the thickness of the metal-plastic pipe (16 mm or 20), it has the same structure and design. And it consists of several layers:
- reinforcing;
- domestic;
- external.
Reinforcing layer
In fact, this is the supporting part in the entire structure. This layer is made of aluminum. This ensures high flexibility and at the same time strength of the polymer material. This layer performs several functions at once:
- Protects the structure from linear expansion. This can happen when the plastic layer is heated.
- Protects the pipe from mechanical damage. When bending, the integrity of the structure is completely preserved. This is a particularly relevant feature forinstallation in hard-to-reach places.
- Protection against pressure drops. The higher this parameter, the thicker the aluminum layer. As a rule, the thickness ranges from 15 to 60 hundredths of a millimeter.
- Protection against oxygen penetration. This helps to prevent the formation of rust and other deposits in the cavities of the structure.
Which metal-plastic pipes are better to use? If repairs are being made in a house or apartment, the best choice is products with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters. Such structures are highly durable and at the same time quite flexible, which will allow you to easily install metal-plastic pipes in difficult areas.
Why should you not choose products with a thick reinforcing layer? There are two reasons for this. Firstly, such designs are much more expensive. And secondly, the installation of metal-plastic pipes with a thick reinforcing layer is rather difficult. At the same time, you can not buy very thin products. This applies to pipes with a layer thickness of less than 30 hundredths of a millimeter. Such designs can be deformed even with slight bending.
Outer and inner layer
The material of the outer and inner layers of pipes is also of great importance. Basically, the linear polymer PE-PT or polyethylene PEX is used in the manufacture. These components are high performance components that provide structural strength and environmental protection.
Also on the building materials market you can findlow-pressure polyethylene. These include materials with the following markings:
- PE.
- PE-HD.
- HDPE.
- PE-RS.
When choosing, you should pay attention that the above components are not resistant to ultraviolet radiation, which is why they quickly become unusable. Polyethylene of the latest marking (PE-RS) in addition has temperature restrictions. During operation, the heating should not exceed 75 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the polyethylene will begin to melt. This leads to involuntary deformations of the plastic contraction, and then to pipe rupture. You should not purchase products with this marking, although they are the most affordable in terms of price on the market.
What else to look out for?
When buying, you should pay attention not only to the marking of pipes. The following parameters must also be taken into account:
- Manufacturer name.
- Stitching method.
- Nominal pressure.
- A medium suitable for transporting the product.
- Date of manufacture.
- Certificate of conformity.
About this resource
The average service life of pipes of this type is about 30-50 years. Manufacturers themselves give a ten-year warranty on their products. However, it should be borne in mind that the following factors significantly affect the resource:
- High pressure (more than ten atmospheres).
- The presence of sunlight.
- Contact with high temperatures from outside.
Only if the operating rules are observedthe product will serve the period allotted by the manufacturer.
Products for heating systems
It is worth talking about these types of structures. Metal-plastic pipes for heating are designed for a temperature of 95 degrees Celsius. This parameter is operational for products. In this situation, the product does not deform and does not lose its characteristics. But a temperature of 110 degrees or more is already considered an emergency. Of course, wear and tear will not happen immediately. Each pipe has its own short-term margin of safety. But if this temperature is constantly affected, the life of the product will be reduced by several times.
What does the manufacturer say about operation in cold weather? The temperature threshold at which a pipe with liquid does not deform is -20 degrees Celsius. The emergency indicator is 40 or more degrees of frost. In this case, leaks may occur.
Sizes
When choosing metal-plastic pipes for heating or plumbing, you should also be guided by the length of the product. Typically, such structures are sold in bays from 50 to 200 meters long. But you can buy products and shorter. It all depends on the scale of the repair.
It is also important to consider the inner diameter. The thinnest is a metal-plastic pipe 16 mm. What to choose for a private house or apartment? Experts advise buying products of small diameter. Metal-plastic pipe 20 mm will be the best choice. But for small spaces, a 16mm model will suffice.
About installation
Toto connect pipes, you must have special fittings. They will allow you to make turns, wiring and installation of structures of different diameters. For example, a 16 mm metal-plastic pipe can be easily combined with a 20 mm one. And vice versa. But in order for the design to be airtight, it is worth using special presses to fix it. For metal-plastic pipes, whole sets of devices are sold. They can be either mechanical or electrical. What are plastic pipe presses? These are crimping pliers with handles, which are supplied with couplings of different diameters for crimping. There are several types of fittings for connecting metal-plastic pipes:
- Press fittings.
- Collet.
- Threaded.
- Compression.
They all differ in diameter and are made of different materials. But, as practice shows, the most optimal choice is threaded elements.
Installation can be carried out in several stages. For this you need:
- Cut off the desired piece of pipe with special scissors.
- Remove metal burrs from the edges with a needle file.
- Apply silicone grease to the fitting nipple.
- Install the union nut on the pipe and ferrule.
- Push the product onto the fitting fitting (it is important not to damage the O-rings).
- Tighten the connection with wrenches.
For crimping press fittings, a special tool is used - press tongs. An example of his work can be seen in the photo below.
Below we take a look at the most popular multilayer pipe manufacturers that have received rave reviews.
Stout
This is an Italian company that manufactures pipes for heating. User reviews highlight such advantages as reliability and safety of the design. These products are perfect for our operating conditions. Stout produces pipes with a diameter of 16 millimeters. The total wall thickness is 2 mm. The volume of water in one meter is 0.11 liters. Made from mesh polyethylene. The pipe is highly flexible, making it suitable for narrow radius elbows.
ProExpert
This is a Russian manufacturer that has been producing pipes for twenty years. This company produces products with a diameter of 20 millimeters from PPR-AL-plastic. The reviews say that ProExpert products are highly temperature resistant.
V altek
This is already a Chinese manufacturer. Buyers say that these pipes are ideal for radiator heating. The manufacturer provides a ten-year warranty. However, the reviews note one minus. This is a small thickness of pipes (only 12 millimeters). But at the same time, the product repeatedly withstands significant temperature changes. It is also worth noting that the V altek pipes are sewn using the organosilane method.
Prandelli
This is a rather rare company in Russia. These pipes are made in Italy. Differthe presence of two-layer polyethylene. The reviews say that the service life of such products is the highest. But at the same time there is a minus - a high price. Such products cost twice as much as Russian counterparts from ProExpert. Pipe diameter - 16 millimeters, stitching type - PE-XB.
Henco
These metal-plastic pipes are produced in Belgium. Their main difference is that they are covered with colored corrugation. This is very useful for differentiating between hot and cold liquids. It is noted that such products are very durable and easy to install. Service life - up to 50 years, while the manufacturer's warranty - 12 years.
Oventop
These pipes are from a German manufacturer. The company launches the Copipe HS line, featuring a three-layer construction. Its main feature is that if the outer layer is damaged, the characteristics of the pipe are completely preserved. It does not need replacement or any repair.
Such a damaged pipe can withstand pressure up to ten atmospheres and temperatures up to +100 degrees Celsius. As for the dimensions, Oventop is a 16 mm metal-plastic pipe. Sold in bays of 50, 100 or 200 meters. Holds its shape well.
Conclusion
So, we found out what a metal-plastic pipe is. As you can see, this product has a lot of advantages compared to conventional steel or plastic structures. Such pipes withstand large temperature differences, can take any shape and are connected usingconventional fittings. In addition, they can be used both indoors and outdoors (and even underground). As for the choice, the ideal option would be a product with a diameter of 16 or 20 millimeters with a two- or three-layer design. It will be a cheap and flexible pipe that will withstand all the loads placed on it.
