I just got a bunch of this ABS pipe called "Durapipe Air-Line Xtra," for next to nothing. Not enough to do my whole shop, but it's a good start. Still trying to track down pricing to do the rest. Anyone used this stuff before? All the simplicity of PVC, without ...you know..the pipebomb factor. Just surprised it's not used more or even more available in the US and I don't find it even mentioned on GJ when I search it. This came out of a shop that is closing down.
ABS pipe for compressed air system
- Thread starter climb.on
- Start date
coljar
Well-known member
I'll admit I've never heard of it, but I'm going to read up. I won't need it, but I always want to learn.
JCQuick
Well-known member
Looks like it is for low pressure air only 165 psi rating even sch40 PVC is higher.
Dragfluid
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Working pressure 12.5 bar. = 181 PSI. So assuming a 20% safety factor, 217 PSI.
I think that I'll stick to iron pipe.
Here we go again.
I think that I'll stick to iron pipe.
Here we go again.
Tinkerman66
Banned
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2017
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- 274
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Last time I bought ABS piping for an installation, it was about 4x the cost of black iron, and that was with our discount. Also, it takes going to a good industrial supplier to find it. Big box stores don’t carry it.
The Durapipe ABS rated at 185 @ 73. I don't think I'd ever need any more than that? The rapid air stuff is rated at 200 @ 70.
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Stop and read what that standard is before you do a Darwin. PVC is not, never has been and never will be rated for compressible fluid use!
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I was referring to the Durapipe ABS pipe rating not PVC. I edited my previous post for clarity. I'm not using PVC if someone installed it for free.
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
No sweat, wasn’t sure. Would hate for someone to think PVC was being advocated for.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Interesting. I knew there had been some ABS pipe rated for use with compressed air systems in the past, but had heard they weren't available anymore.
For the people who always talk about using PVC, this is important information from the link above:
---
Duraplus Air-Line is made from a ductile material whose mode of failure resembles that of soft copper. Failure is by ductile distortion and tearing. In contrast, the failure of rigid materials, (PVC, CPVC, etc.) is accompanied by rapid crack propagation and hazardous material fragmentation. The resulting explosion when conveying compressed air can be catastrophic and could cause injury. Unplasticised, rigid plastic piping must never be used for compressed gas conveyance.
---
Some of us here on the site harp about this all the time - maybe seeing it in official company literature will help our cause.
For the people who always talk about using PVC, this is important information from the link above:
---
Duraplus Air-Line is made from a ductile material whose mode of failure resembles that of soft copper. Failure is by ductile distortion and tearing. In contrast, the failure of rigid materials, (PVC, CPVC, etc.) is accompanied by rapid crack propagation and hazardous material fragmentation. The resulting explosion when conveying compressed air can be catastrophic and could cause injury. Unplasticised, rigid plastic piping must never be used for compressed gas conveyance.
---
Some of us here on the site harp about this all the time - maybe seeing it in official company literature will help our cause.
I found a local supplier for the Durapipe, I'm just waiting to hear back on pricing.
Still sensitive to UV (sunlight or other sources, like WELDERS). That piping system (pipe and fittings) has to be scuff sanded and then primed and painted with a white water-based acrylic paint with titanium dioxide pigment (which is also a sunscreen type UV absorber).
Pressure rating falls off to 115 psi at 120F (not all that hot in some places, like the SW USA which routinely gets darn close to that in just 'raw' air temperature').
Also note on Page 6 of the spec brochure, that "compressed air systems must not be used at temperatures below 40F". My local fall, winter, and spring air temperatures are below that routinely. My unheated garage would be that cold. I still use compressed air all year long.
Large thermal expansion coefficient, must allow the pipe to float/slide through the hangers/supports and especially allow extra space and design the mounting to allow for that expansion/contraction at corners.
Sensitive to compressor oils, ESPECIALLY synthetic compressor oils. You would have to totally filter the airstream before it gets into the piping at all.
Possible further chemical compatibility issues with flexible air hose plasticizers. So yet another compatibility issue to keep in mind (flex line coming off the compressor to isolate the machinery vibrations?).
No thanks. YMMV though.
Pressure rating falls off to 115 psi at 120F (not all that hot in some places, like the SW USA which routinely gets darn close to that in just 'raw' air temperature').
Also note on Page 6 of the spec brochure, that "compressed air systems must not be used at temperatures below 40F". My local fall, winter, and spring air temperatures are below that routinely. My unheated garage would be that cold. I still use compressed air all year long.
Large thermal expansion coefficient, must allow the pipe to float/slide through the hangers/supports and especially allow extra space and design the mounting to allow for that expansion/contraction at corners.
Sensitive to compressor oils, ESPECIALLY synthetic compressor oils. You would have to totally filter the airstream before it gets into the piping at all.
Possible further chemical compatibility issues with flexible air hose plasticizers. So yet another compatibility issue to keep in mind (flex line coming off the compressor to isolate the machinery vibrations?).
No thanks. YMMV though.
ford33
Well-known member
This is an interesting product designed for compressed air systems. It does have limitations which you should be aware prior to installing it in your shop. Take the manufacturers recommendations and warnings seriously and make an informed decision.
From the manufacturers technical specification:
Clean air required:
Air-Line is ideally suited to clean air applications.
Where air is not free from oil, IPEX must be consulted prior
to installation concerning the suitability of the compressor
oils to be used.
Note that synthetic oils are generally not compatible
with Air-Line and must not be used with the system.
Certain additive rich mineral oils are also incompatible
with the system.
As a safeguard, IPEX has produced oil warning labels for
attachment to the compressor. These are available upon
request.
Call before using oil in lines:
WARNING
Certain compressor and lubricating oils will damage
your Duraplus Air-Line installation
Before using any oils in the system, contact IPEX
to obtain a list of recommended oils or to confirm
individual oil suitability
Exposure to sunlight requires painting:
Care should be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to
sunlight, which will cause discolouration of the Air-Line
Xtra material. If stored outdoors, products must be
underneath an opaque covering, e.g. a tarpaulin.
If installed in a location exposed to sunlight, the
pipework should be painted
Pressure temperature restrictions:
Compressed air temperature at 120 F limits air pressure to 115 PSIG.
Link to the manufacturers technical specification:
https://www.aetnaplastics.com/site_...etnaproduct/67/Duraplus Air Line System_1.pdf
From the manufacturers technical specification:
Clean air required:
Air-Line is ideally suited to clean air applications.
Where air is not free from oil, IPEX must be consulted prior
to installation concerning the suitability of the compressor
oils to be used.
Note that synthetic oils are generally not compatible
with Air-Line and must not be used with the system.
Certain additive rich mineral oils are also incompatible
with the system.
As a safeguard, IPEX has produced oil warning labels for
attachment to the compressor. These are available upon
request.
Call before using oil in lines:
WARNING
Certain compressor and lubricating oils will damage
your Duraplus Air-Line installation
Before using any oils in the system, contact IPEX
to obtain a list of recommended oils or to confirm
individual oil suitability
Exposure to sunlight requires painting:
Care should be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to
sunlight, which will cause discolouration of the Air-Line
Xtra material. If stored outdoors, products must be
underneath an opaque covering, e.g. a tarpaulin.
If installed in a location exposed to sunlight, the
pipework should be painted
Pressure temperature restrictions:
Compressed air temperature at 120 F limits air pressure to 115 PSIG.
Link to the manufacturers technical specification:
https://www.aetnaplastics.com/site_...etnaproduct/67/Duraplus Air Line System_1.pdf
finn
Well-known member
Sounds like it is for food manufacturing plants where there is no oil allowed in the process and the environment is tightly controlled.
Not the right material for a home garage.
Not the right material for a home garage.