Page 64 - Facility Piping Systems Handbook for Industrial, Commercial, and Healthcare Facilities

PIPING

2.14 CHAPTER TWO

HDPE = high-density polyethylene
IIR = isobutene isoprene (butyl) rubber (E)
IR = polyisoprene (E)
PA = polyamide
PAEK = polyaryl etherketone
PB = polybutylene
PC = polycarbonate
PCTFE = polychlorotrifluoroethylene (Halar)
PDAP = polydiallyl phthalate
PE = polyethylene
PEX = cross-linked polyethylene
PF = phenol-formaldehyde
PFA = perfluoroalkoxy
PIB = polyisobutylene
PLC = polylactic container
PP = polypropylene
PPS = polyphenylene sulfide
PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)
PEEK = polyether etherketone
PFA = perfluoroalkoxy
PS = polysulfone
PVC = polyvinyl chloride
PVDC = polyvinylidene chloride
PVDF = polyvinylidene fluoride
PVFM = polyvinyl formal
PVK = polyvinyl carbazole
SBR = styrene butadiene (E)

Plastic materials used for piping are divided into two basic groups, thermoplastic and
thermosetting. Thermoplastics soften upon the application of heat and reharden upon cool-
ing. This permits pipe to be extruded or molded into shapes. The most common piping
materials are thermoplastic. Thermosetting plastics form permanent shapes only when
cured by the application of heat or the use of a curing chemical. Once shaped, they cannot
be reformed.
There are subclassifications of pipe based on the material used for the pipe itself. The
two most common are polyolefins and fluoroplastics. Polyolefins, which are plastics formed
by the polymerization of certain straight chain hydrocarbons, include ethylene, propylene,
and butylene. Piping includes PP, PE, and PB. Fluoroplastics are polymers containing one
or more atoms of fluorine. Piping includes PTFE, PVDF, CTFE, ETFE, PFA, and FEP.

PLASTIC PIPE STANDARDS AND NOMENCLATURE

A variety of standards and nomenclature is used to designate pressures and standard dimen-
sions used for the procurement and identification of plastic pipe. Some are used to match

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