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INTRODUCTION

A fundamental understanding of material characteristics is an inherent part of the design process for any piping system. With such an understanding, the piping designer can use the properties of the material to design for optimum performance. This chapter provides basic information that should assist the reader in understanding how polyethylene's (PE's) material characteristics influence its engineering behavior.

PE is a thermoplastic, which means that it is a polymeric material that can be softened and formed into useful shapes by the application of heat and pressure and which hardens when cooled. PE is a member of the polyolefins family, which also includes polypropylene. As a group of materials, the polyolefins generally possess low water absorption, moderate to low gas permeability, good toughness and flexibility at low temperatures, and a relatively low heat resistance. PE plastics form flexible but tough products and possess excellent resistance to many chemicals.