In domestic piping systems, many metal pipes are replaced by plastics due to their shortcomings such as flexibility and corrosion resistance. There are two common types of plastic pipes on the market, called PB (polybutene) and PEX (crosslinked polyethylene). The main difference between PB and PEX is the way the material is created. The polymer chains in PEX combine with each other; this is called a cross link, and this phenomenon does not occur in PB pipes.
Crosslinking s to changed physical properties, which shows a very beneficial effect on PEX. One of the advantages of PEX compared to PB is that it is more resistant to high pressure. Different manufacturers will have different production processes to formulate their own corporate standards. The pressure limit of PEX between the two will definitely be greater than PB. Used in rivers, well water pumping, and pipes exposed to cold air, PEX is better than PB. Compared with PB, the second advantage of PEX is its higher temperature tolerance.
There is also the problem of corrosion caused by the use of chlorine. Chlorine is used throughout the world to treat and purify water, and the water delivered to our homes through pipes contains a certain amount of chlorine. The problem is that prolonged exposure to chlorine gas will gradually break the bond in the PB tube. Over time, the PB pipeline will become fragile and fragile, and eventually rupture due to pressure. PEX has greater resistance to corrosion caused by chlorine, even in the case of high concentration of chlorine, its service life is longer. In the case of selecting materials, you can consider whether the fluid is suitable.
The inherent weakness of PB, many national building codes abroad are no longer applicable. The continuous innovation of plastic pipes has provided many technological innovations to overcome problems in all aspects of our lives.