Advantages of using High Modulus Polypropylen for gravity pipes
Pipes are getting larger and larger in diameter, but while plastic pipes are entering the huge market of concrete pipes, the main barrier is still the high price of the raw material. Some authorities still don´t accept and consider the importance of the advantages of a long life time and a sustainable pipe system, or they just don´t want to spend the money for the future of their country. So the question is how producers of plastic pipes made of High Modulus Polypropylene (PP-HM) can deal with this problem.
How can existing “conventional” pipe producers enter these markets with technically better products and very competitive prices? Today large sewage and drainage pipes are mainly produced with standard polyethylene or polypropylenes. Mostly, structured wall pipes are used for these applications according to international standards like:
DIN16961, EN13476, NBR7373,JIS, ASTM F894
Short term E-module (E) of different polyolefin materials (usually they can be used in normal single screw extruders):
- E(PE80) = 800 N/mm²
- E(PE100)=1000 N/mm²
- E(PP-HM, BorEco BA212 E) = 1700 N/mm² (a product made by Borouge and Borealis)
To make an easy calculation, we should start with reducing a solid wall thickness by increasing the E-modulus of the material (standard material can also have a higher short time E-modulus).