Plastics for Compressed Air

Although plastics can be used to transport compressed air, the selection of the material is critically important. Compressed air and/or other gases contain a tremendous amount of stored energy, even at relatively low pressures. PVC-U and PVC-C have a brittle mode of failure, and should a fracture occur in a pipe handling compressed air or gas, the immediate release of the stored energy can cause extreme danger. For this reason, NEVER use PVC-U or PVC-C for this application.

Polyethylene (PE) and modified forms of ABS have good resistance to compressor oils as well as having high ductility and impact strength. Agruair and Air-Line Xtra systems provide high levels of corrosion resistance and will not suffer from rusting or scaling. They are non-toxic and have a smooth bore – resulting in lower friction losses. Lightweight and easy to install these systems are very cost-effective when compared to metal piping.

For further information on Agruair or Air-Line Xtra, please click here to e-mail us.