PE Pipes Jointing Methods
PE pipes can be joined by different means depending upon end use requirements. Some of the jointing techniques are as follows.
For permanent joints
- Butt Fusion Welding joint (widely used)
- Socket Fusion joint
- Electro Fusion joint
| Advantages Of PE pipe vs Other pipes: |
| Properties |
PVC |
PE 100 |
D.IRON |
<GRP |
| Brittleness Properties |
Frail |
Very Resistanct |
Resistanct |
Partly Resistance |
| Maximum Produced Length (m) |
6 |
500 |
6 |
6/12 |
| Corrosion Resistance – Abrasion Resistance |
Partly Resistance |
Very Resistance |
Very Frail |
Frail |
| Hygienic Superiority |
Worrisome |
Excellent |
Worrisome |
Problematic |
| Wall Elasticity coeff. |
33 |
377 |
1 |
< 33 |
| Water Hammer Damping Ability * |
Problematic |
Excellent |
Problematic |
Problematic |
| Need for Trench Widening (%Pipe Diameter) |
More than 110% |
More than 5-10% |
More than 110% |
More than 200% |
| Bedding Necessity Around Pipe (Max:100, Min:0) |
100 |
10 |
60 |
100 |
| Adaptation to Ground Movement |
No |
Adapts |
No |
No |
| Branching Possibility |
Very Difficult |
Very Easy |
Difficult |
Difficult |
|
Butt Fusion Welding joint
- Clean both ends with a damp cloth to dislodge any foreign matter or dirt deposited on the pipe.
- Hold the pipes firmly with the clamps of a specially designed welding jack.
- Bring both the faces to axial alignment by using support rollers to minimize mismatch of the faces by rotating, if necessary.
- Carefully remove the oxidized layer on the butts by using a scrapper or a planner.
- Bring both faces in contact with an electrically heated welding mirror maintained at temperature of 210 ± 5°C. Fuse the butts by applying a slight pressure of around 0.2 kg/cm. The pipe material melts and forms a uniform circular rim on the periphery of both the pipe faces.
- Remove the heating mirror and quickly bring both ends in contact with enough pressure.
- Allow the joint to cool to ambient temperature under pressure.
- Open the clamps and remove the pipes from the welding jack.
Socket Fusion joint
- For smaller diameter PE pipes, socket heat fusion technique is adopted.
- In this technique individual pipe lengths are joined by heat fusing the outside surface of the pipe to the inside surface of fitting.
- It is mainly used for industrial & domestic plumbing systems.
- For this purpose a special equipment is available that simultaneously heats these two surfaces to fusion temperature.
Electro Fusion joint
- In this method the socket of the fitting incorporates an electrical heating coil.
- When energized by an electronic control unit, the coil causes the material around it to melt and form an expanding pool which comes in contact with the surface of the pipe. This causes the pipe to melt, leading to fusion of pipes & socket.
- Used for air / gas distribution lines.
