Understanding Corrosion and Pipe Materials in Plumbing
Corrosion in Plumbing
Corrosion is an irreversible process of degradation affecting the properties of metals and alloys. It impacts all installations made with metal materials.
Types of Corrosion
- Chemical Action: Occurs without an external driving force or electromotive force.
- Purely Chemical Action
- Biochemical Action
External Corrosion
The endurance of piping against external corrosion depends on humidity and certain aggressive building materials like mortar and plaster.
Internal Corrosion
The aggressiveness of water to pipes depends on many factors, such as natural acidity and the concentration of dissolved salts.
Embedding
It manifests independently of the pipe material that conducts it. Due to its great solvent power, water is never found pure but carries a solution of salts and gases of varied nature. Substances, salts, and dissolved water come from the natural environment where we take it: rivers, wells, and other manipulations that humans do with it. They can be used for certain purposes and applications.
Copper Pipes (Cu)
Copper is a salmon-red metal that is very ductile, malleable, and a good conductor of electricity and heat.
Main Characteristics of Copper
- Easy and quick preparation and placement
- High resistance to corrosion
- Melting point of 1082°C
- Great durability and guaranteed immutability
Delivery Forms
- Rolls: Up to 22mm in diameter, supplied in lengths up to 50m. Generally delivered in soft copper, which bends easily.
- Straight Strips: These tubes are supplied without annealing, providing good rigidity.
Joints
- Capillary soldering
- Capillary brazing
- Mechanical joints (pressed)
- Mechanical joints (compression)
Steel Pipes
Iron is a chemical element (Fe) and is not found pure. It is a gray metal, a good conductor of heat and electricity, and its melting point is 1535°C.
Galvanized steel pipes are commonly used in plumbing. They are covered by a layer of zinc to protect them from oxidation.
Galvanized Steel Pipes
These are made of longitudinally welded steel and protected inside and out with a galvanized coating.
Forms of Delivery
Galvanized steel pipe is manufactured in rigid strips of 5m in length and can be bent cold.
Joints
Joints with galvanized steel pipe should be threaded through the corresponding accessories.
Polyethylene Pipes
Used for water and gas distribution networks and irrigation systems.
Three Types of Processes
- Low-density polyethylene
- Medium-density polyethylene
- High-density polyethylene
Ways of Supplying
- Rods with lengths between 6 and 12m
- 50, 100, and 150m rolls applicable in diameters inferior to 50mm
- 200, 500, and 1000m coils applicable to diameters of 63 and 90mm
Joints
- Electrofusion fittings
Stainless Steel Pipes
Made up of an alloy of iron with a minimum of 10% chromium.
Forms of Delivery
Manufactured in rigid strips of 5 or 6m in length and can be bent cold.
Joints
- Pressed joints
- Welded joints
- Mechanical compression joints
- Adhesive joints