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Plastic pipes are widely used in agriculture, municipal engineering, construction, and other fields. They bear the important task of transporting water resources. But just like people, plastic pipes also have a service life. After long-term use, they may develop some problems—among which the most widespread and common is aging!
Just like all living beings have a limited lifespan, the aging of plastic pipes is also unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it.
Some pipes can only be used for a few years, while others can last for over a decade or even several decades before aging to the point of being unusable. This huge difference is related to the quality of the pipe itself, as well as factors like our usage habits.
So, how can we prevent plastic pipes from aging? How can we slow down the aging process of plastic pipes? This post will give you a detailed explanation!
Signs of Plastic Pipe Aging
When plastic pipes start to age, there will be visible signs. Generally, it shows up as stains, spots, discoloration, and so on, on the surface of the pipe. If the aging gets more severe, cracks may appear on the surface, and it can even become brittle or crack open directly.
Causes of Plastic Pipe Aging
All plastic products will experience aging problems, and aging is also a long process. The causes of plastic pipe aging can mainly be divided into internal causes and external causes.
The internal cause is determined by the molecular properties of the plastic itself. The molecular chains of plastic degrade over time, and during this process, free radicals are produced, which further accelerate the degradation of the molecular chains. Eventually, the degradation of the plastic molecular chains leads to the aging of the pipe. So, it can be said that this internal cause is essentially the root of plastic pipe aging!
The factors that trigger the internal causes are what we refer to as external causes. These external causes are generally related to the environment, such as sunlight, oxygen, radiation, mold, bacteria, chemicals, and so on. When plastic pipes are exposed to these environments, they are more likely to age. Among them, the three external factors that have the greatest impact on pipe aging are light exposure, high temperature, and chemicals.
Light Exposure
Pipes exposed to direct sunlight undergo a lot of ultraviolet radiation. These UV rays break the molecular chains of the plastic, causing the plastic pipes to become fragile and aged.
High Temperature
In high-temperature environments, plastic molecules react with the oxygen in the air. Although this process is slow, over time, the molecular chains of the plastic break. In addition, the molecular movement in plastic becomes more active in high temperatures, which further accelerates the breaking of the molecular chains. Eventually, these factors cause plastic pipes to age.
Chemicals
If plastic pipes come into contact with chemicals, especially acidic or alkaline substances, chemical reactions will occur between them, breaking the plastic’s molecular chains. In the end, the pipes will age.
The Impact of UV Rays on Plastic Pipes
As mentioned above, there are many factors that contribute to the aging of pipes. But if we had to choose the most important one, it would definitely be sunlight and UV rays.
This is because many plastic pipes are used outdoors, where they are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight have a strong destructive effect on all plastics and polymer materials. They cause plastic molecules to degrade, leading to discoloration, brittleness, and aging of the pipes.
In addition, even if the sunlight doesn’t directly shine on the pipe, it can still be affected by scattered light and be indirectly damaged by UV rays.
How to Prevent Plastic Pipes from Aging?
To prevent and slow down the aging process of plastic pipes, there are many methods we can refer to. Here are some key tips to share with you.
Thickening, Shading, and Coating
The aging of plastic pipes always starts from the surface and then gradually progresses from the outside to the inside. If the outer wall of the pipe is thicker, it can slow down the aging process to some extent.
In addition, if the pipes are exposed outdoors for a long time, workers can build a sunshade above the pipes or directly cover them with shade cloth to prevent sunlight from directly hitting the pipes. This can reduce the effect of UV rays on the pipes and slow down the aging of the pipe surface.
Also, an anti-UV coating can be applied to the surface of the pipe. It can reflect the UV rays that hit the pipe, which can significantly extend the service life of the pipe.
Optimizing Materials
Adding some anti-aging additives during the manufacturing process of plastic pipes is also a common method. These additives mainly include antioxidants, light stabilizers, UV stabilizers, carbon black, stb. They can effectively reduce the impact of external factors such as light, UV rays, and oxygen on the pipes.
In addition, it’s better to choose black or dark-colored pipes during use, because black can absorb UV rays and effectively reduce light transmittance.
Optimizing Pipe Layout
When laying plastic pipes outdoors, it’s important to plan the routing and installation position reasonably and try to avoid direct exposure to sunlight—for example, by burying the pipes in the soil. It’s also important to avoid extreme environments such as high temperature, low temperature, humidity, or chemical corrosion.
Preventing Pipe Blockages
After long-term use, plastic pipes may accumulate sediment, dirt, and other impurities inside. Workers need to clean the pipes regularly to prevent clogging. Blockages can lead to increased internal pressure, which may damage or age the pipe.
Avoiding External Damage
During transportation, construction, or use, it’s important to avoid external impacts, compression, and similar situations. These can also reduce the service life of the pipe.
Proper Storage
Some plastic pipes are not used all year round, such as dripline and drip tape used for irrigation. During seasons like winter when irrigation is not needed, these pipes can be collected and stored in a warehouse, instead of being left outdoors to suffer from wind and sun. Proper management and usage can also effectively prevent aging.
Regular Inspection
The aging of plastic pipes is a long-term process, so workers must inspect them regularly—especially those that have been in use for many years. Check for signs like discoloration, brittleness, and cracking. Pay special attention to the pipe joints, as these are more likely to have problems. Once an issue is found, it should be addressed in time to prevent further deterioration.
Choosing Quality Pipe Products
Unqualified products cannot withstand long-term use and may develop cracks and aging problems in a short time. Therefore, when purchasing pipes, it is essential to choose products from reliable manufacturers and check whether the products have relevant quality certifications. Ensuring product quality is the foundation for preventing future problems.
Final Words
This article shared with readers the causes of plastic pipe aging and how to deal with it. I hope it can be helpful to you! If you also have some experience or methods to prevent pipe aging, feel free to share them with us!
Lastly, please allow me to briefly introduce our company. Rainfaun is an irrigation product manufacturer and exporter headquartered in China. Irrigation pipes and fittings are one of our main product lines, including PVC pipe and fittings, BSP thread pipe and fittings, PP fittings, lay flat hose, dripline, drip tape, valves, and so on. You can find information about Rainfaun and our products on this website.
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Author: Michael
Editor: Michael
Content Reviewer: Michael
