TPi October 2011

plast ic pipes

UV protected PU tubing polyvanced GmbH has developed a solution to the market demand for PU tubing that can stand up to UV radiation. According to sales director Matthias Strehl, the benefits of the UV protected PU tubing include increased product security and assured colour stability – both important advantages for outdoor applications. Synthetic materials deteriorate rapidly when subjected to UV radiation. This applies not least to standard polyurethane (PU) tubing made from aromatic isocyanate compounds. Tubing of this kind loses colour over a period of time. The mechanical properties are largely retained for brief periods, or even over the medium- term, but the tubing becomes yellowish and pale very quickly. Tubing without pigmentation or with light colouration can develop a net-like effect on the surface as a result of oxidation. This quickly results in the tube turning brittle with countless micro cracks. Mr Strehl commented, “We have been researching this problem for quite some time. As an innovative and solution-oriented company we were determined not to stop working on this problem until we had come up with a

polyvanced has found a solution to the demand for PU tubing that can withstand UV radiation

long-term UV protection requirements polyvanced recommends using the colour black for all tubing material as a matter of principle. This has proved to be valuable advice, especially in the automotive industry. polyvanced produces around 50 million metres of special tubing every year. The key industrial sectors served by the company are automation, automotive, drinking water, robotics and drive engineering.

PU tubing solution that was protected against UV radiation and damage. And we can now offer our customers the best product anywhere for doing just this. polyvanced produces on request tubing that keeps its brilliant colouring for a very long time and we have cut oxidation attrition to a minimum at the same time.” UV protected tubing is primarily used for outdoor applications that must withstand very high UV radiation levels. Typical of these are many marine and boatbuilding uses and a range of medical applications. For all

polyvanced GmbH – Germany www.polyvanced.com

Forecasting growth in plastic pipe market The world pipe market is projected to expand 5.8 per cent per year to 31.5 billion metres in 2015, a mild deceleration relative to the 2005-2010 period, according to World Plastic Pipe, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc. region will also record faster growth, as local construction firms and industrial enterprises use pipe more intensely. annually through 2015, as product sales in the US recover rapidly. Plastic pipe consumption in the US is expected to increase nearly 7% per year during this time.

World plastic pipe demand is forecast to increase 7.3% annually, to 20.3 million metric tons in 2015. Consumption of smaller-volume plastic pipe products such as ABS, GRP and PP pipe will expand at an above-average pace, as end users become more familiar with their technical characteristics and performance features. Increases in global construction activity and process manufacturing output will support growth.

More than two-thirds of all plastic pipe demand generated during the 2010- 2015 period will be attributable to the Asia/Pacific region. Several major Asian countries are forecast to record rapid growth, including India, China and Indonesia. The full 397-page World Plastic Pipe study is available to purchase from The Freedonia Group. The Freedonia Group, Inc – USA info@freedoniagroup.com www.freedoniagroup.com

The slowdown can be almost entirely attributed to China, the world’s largest consumer of pipe. After increasing rapidly from 2000 to 2010, Chinese pipe demand is expected to rise at about the average worldwide rate through 2015. Advances in North America, Eastern Europe and Western Europe are expected to accelerate through 2015, as these regions recover from the global financial crisis. The Africa/Mideast region and the rest of the Asia/Pacific

The North American plastic pipe market is forecast to grow more than 6%

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October 2011 Tube Products International