PVC Pipe Types

1. PVC-U (rigid polyvinyl chloride) pipe

Overview

PVC-U (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe, also known as rigid polyvinyl chloride pipe, is a PVC pipe without plasticizer. It has the characteristics of high hardness, high strength, and good corrosion resistance. It is widely used in water supply, drainage, agricultural irrigation, wire threading, chemical fluid transportation and other fields.

Main features

Strong corrosion resistance: It can resist the erosion of most acids, alkalis, salts and other chemical substances, and is suitable for chemical fluid transportation.

High strength and rigidity: The structure is stable and not easy to deform, suitable for long-term fluid transportation.

No scaling, hygienic and safe: The inner wall is smooth, not easy to breed bacteria, and meets the drinking water hygiene standards.

Light weight and easy installation: Compared with metal pipes, PVC-U pipes are lighter and easier to construct.

Low price, economical and practical: The production cost is low and the cost performance is high.

Application areas

Municipal water supply, rural drinking water projects

Building drainage, sewage treatment pipelines

Agricultural irrigation pipelines

Cable threading protection pipes

Chemical fluid delivery pipelines

Use restrictions

The temperature resistance is low (applicable temperature range: -5℃~60℃), not suitable for high-temperature fluid delivery.

It is brittle at low temperatures and may break at extremely low temperatures or when subjected to strong impact.

It may age if exposed to sunlight for a long time, and sun protection measures need to be taken.

2. PVC-C (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) pipe

Overview

PVC-C (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe, that is, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe, is based on ordinary PVC-U pipe with increased chlorine content, thereby improving temperature resistance, pressure resistance and chemical resistance. It is mainly used in hot water delivery, industrial fluid delivery, fire protection system and other occasions that require high temperature resistance.

Main features

Excellent high temperature resistance: The temperature range can reach 90℃, suitable for hot water and high-temperature fluid delivery.

Stronger corrosion resistance: Compared with PVC-U, PVC-C has better chemical resistance and can resist corrosion from stronger acids, alkalis, oxidants and other substances.

High mechanical strength: Stronger pressure bearing capacity, suitable for high-pressure transmission systems.

Good flame retardancy: PVC-C material itself has flame retardant properties and does not produce a large amount of toxic gases when burned.

Long service life: Good aging resistance, can still be used stably for a long time under high temperature and high pressure environment.

Application areas

Hot water pipes (such as domestic hot water systems, industrial hot water transmission)

Fire protection systems (such as automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing pipes)

Chemical pipes (such as corrosive liquid transmission)

High-pressure fluid transmission (such as industrial fluids, heating systems)

Usage restrictions

High cost, more expensive than ordinary PVC-U pipes.

Installation requires special glue or solvent welding technology, and the connection process is slightly more complicated than PVC-U.

Cold resistance is average, and may become brittle in extremely cold environments.

3. PVC-O (Biaxially Oriented Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipe

Overview

PVC-O (Oriented Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe, also known as biaxially oriented polyvinyl chloride pipe, is a high-strength pipe produced by a special biaxial orientation process (rearrangement of PVC molecules during the manufacturing process). Its strength and pressure resistance are much higher than PVC-U pipes, and it is mainly used in high-pressure water transmission, municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation and other fields.

Main features

Highest strength and extremely strong pressure resistance: Compared with PVC-U pipes, the strength of PVC-O pipes is more than doubled and can withstand higher water pressure.

Good toughness and strong impact resistance: not easy to break, especially suitable for large-diameter, high-pressure water supply systems.

Strong chemical resistance: Similar to PVC-U, it can withstand corrosion from a variety of acid and alkali chemicals.

Lighter and easier to install: Compared with PVC-U pipes of the same specifications, PVC-O pipes are lighter and more convenient to transport and construct.

Small water flow resistance, energy saving and environmental protection: the inner wall is smooth, which reduces water flow resistance, improves water delivery efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

Long service life: the material is stable, has strong anti-aging ability, and the service life can reach more than 50 years.

Application areas

Municipal water supply, high-pressure water pipelines

Agricultural irrigation (such as field drip irrigation, high-efficiency water-saving irrigation)

Industrial fluid transportation (such as factory water supply, high-pressure pipeline network)

Usage restrictions

The production process is complex, the cost is high, and the price is higher than PVC-U pipes.

The market penetration rate is relatively low, and it is mainly used in specific high-demand projects.

The temperature resistance is similar to that of PVC-U, and it is generally used in the range of -5℃~60℃.

Summary comparison

How to choose?

General building water supply, drainage, irrigation and other general uses → PVC-U pipe (economical and widely used)

High-temperature fluid, hot water, fire protection system → PVC-C pipe (high temperature resistance, strong pressure resistance)

High-pressure water transmission, large-scale municipal water supply projects → PVC-O pipe (strongest strength and toughness)