HDPE : General

Features and Benefits

The first SABS specification (SABS 533) made use of design stress of 5 mPa. This specification has now been superceded by SABS ISO 4427 which covers 3 different material grades viz:

PE63, PE80 & PE100. These 3 material grades have different properties which enable them to be classified with minimum required strengths (MRS) of 6.3 MPa, 8.0 MPa & 10.0 MPa respectively.

Applying a design coefficient of 1.25 (safety factor) to the MRS gives the design stress used by SABS ISO 4427 for these materials (5.0 MPa, 6.3 MPa & 8.0 MPa respectively) with the result that the wall thickness for a particular size & class become progressively lass as the change is made to a material with a higher MRS.

FeaturesBenefits
Good impact strengthLittle handling and installation damage
Excellent corrosion resistanceLong and efficient service life
Good chemical resistanceWide range of applications
Low massEasy handling
FlexibilityEasy installation
Long lengths availableFewer joints
Good abrasion resistanceCan be used to pump slurries
Low friction lossesLower pumping costs
Several jointing methodsWide variety of applications
Extensive range of fittingsWide variety of installations
Nominal Working Pressure HDS 5 MPa PE 80PN 3.2PN4
Nominal Working Pressure HDS 6.3 MPa PE 80PN 3.2PN 4PN 63
Nominal Working Pressure HDS 8 MPa PE 100PN 4PN 6.3PN 8
Standard Diameter Ratio (SDR)SDR 41SDR 33SDR 26SDR 21
Norm
Size
mm
Mean Outside
Diameter
Ovality Outside
Diameter
Wall Thickness TPipe ID &
Mass
Wall Thickness TPipe ID &
Mass
Wall Thickness TPipe ID &
Mass
Wall Thickness TPipe ID &
Mass
MinMaxMinMaxMinMaxIDKg/mMinMaxIDKg/mMinMaxIDKg/mMinMaxIDKg/m
161616.315.416.31.61.9130.081.61.9130.081.61.9130.081.61.9130.08
202020.319.420.61.61.9170.101.61.9170.101.61.9170.101.61.9170.10
252525.324.425.61.61.9220.121.61.9220.121.61.9220.121.61.9220.12
323232.331.432.71.61.9290.161.61.9290.161.61.9290.161.61.9290.16
404040.439.340.71.61.9370.201.61.9370.201.61.9370.201.92.2360.24
505050.549.350.71.61.9470.251.61.9470.251.92.3460.302.42.8450.37
636363.662.263.81.61.9600.321.92.2590.382.42.8580.483.03.5570.59
757575.774.275.81.82.1710.432.32.6700.532.93.3690.673.64.1680.82
909090.989.190.92.22.5860.622.73.1850.773.54.0830.974.34.9811.19
110110111.0108.8111.12.73.11050.933.33.81031.154.24.91011.455.26.0991.77
125125126.2123.8126.33.03.51191.203.84.41171.484.85.51151.876.06.81132.29
140140141.3138.6141.43.43.91331.514.24.91321.865.46.21292.346.77.71262.87
160160161.5158.4161.63.94.41521.944.85.41502.406.26.91483.027.68.51453.70
180180181.7178.2181.84.44.91722.465.56.11693.046.97.81663.828.69.61634.68
200200201.8198.0202.04.95.51913.036.16.81883.757.78.61854,071 9.510.71815.78
225225227.1222.8227.35.56.12143.836.87.62124.738.79.62085.9510.711.92037.30
250250252.3247.5252.56.16.82384.737.68.42355.849.610.72317.3511.913.32269.01
280280282.6275.1284.96.87.62675.948.59.52637.3310.812.02599.2213.314.925311.30
315315317.9309.5320.67.78.63007.519.510.62969.2712.113.529111.6715.016.728514.30
355355358.2348.8361.38.79.73389.5410.812.033411.7813.715.232814.8216.918.832118.16
400400403.6393.0407.09.810.938112.1112.113.537614.9515.417.236918.8119.021.236223.06
450450454.1442.1457.911.012.242915.2913.615.142318.8817.319.241623.7521.423.840729.12
500500504.5491.3508.812.213.547718.8815.216.847023.3119.221.346229.3223.826.445235.94
560560565.0550.2569.813.715.253423.6817.018.852729.2421.523.951736.7826.729.650645.08
630630635.7619.0641.115.417.160029.9819.121.259337.0124.226.958246.5630.033.357057.07
HDS = Hydrostatic Design Stress, in MPa. Obtained by applying a design factor of not less than 1.25 to the minimum required strength value pipe. Out of roundness (Ovality) Grade N. Hydrostatic Design Stress.
Designation of
Material
MRS at 50 years &
20°C (MPa)
Maximum allowable hydrostatic
design stress (MPa)
PE 100
108
PE 80
86.3
PE 63
6.35

Coil Dimensions

hdpe coil dimensions diagram

Standard Coil Lengths

16 – 40mm : 100 metre coils
50 – 90mm : 50 & 100 metre coils
110mm : 50 metre coils

O.D. [mm]
SDRsI.D. I [mm]
O.D. D [mm]Width W [mm]
Coil Length [m]50m
100m
50m
100m
167.4/9/11
600n/a
860n/a
180
207.4/9/11/13.6
600n/a
860n/a
180
257.4/9/11/13.6/17
600n/a
890n/a
200
327.4/9/11/13.6/17
700n/a
1,090 n/a
220
407.4/9/11/13.6/17/26
700n/a
1,090 n/a
220
507.4/9/11/13.6/17/26
1,300 1,410 1,560 150220
637.4/9/11/13.6/17/26/33
1,300 1,780 1,960 190280
757.4/9/11/13.6/17/26/33
1,300 1,780 1,960 190280
907.4/9/11
2,500 3,100 3,300 270360
13.6/17/21/26/33
1,800 2,360 2,540 360450
1107.4/9/11
2,500 3,160 n/a
330n/a
13.6/17/21/26/33
2,200 2,860 n/a
400n/a
PN 6.3
PN 8
PN 10
PN 12.5
PN 16
PN 8
PN 10
PN 12.5
PN 16
PN 20
PN 10
PN 12.5
PN 16
PN 20
SDR 17
SDR 13.6
SDR 11
SDR 9
SDR 7.4
Wall thickness T
Pipe ID & Mass
Wall thickness T
Pipe ID & Mass
Wall thickness T
Pipe ID & Mass
Wall thickness T
Pipe ID & Mass
Wall thickness T
Pipe ID & Mass
Min
MaxID
Kg/m
Min
Max
ID
Kg/m
Min
Max
ID
Kg/m
Min
Max
ID
Kg/m
Min
Max
ID
Kg/m
1.61.9130.081.61.9130.081.61.9130.081.82.1120.082.22.5110.10
1.61.9170.101.61.9170.101.82.1160.112.22.6150.132.73.2140.15
1.61.9220.121.82.2210.142.32.7200.172.83.3190.203.44.0180.24
1.92.2280.182.42.8270.232.93.4260.273.64.2240.334.35.1230.39
2.42.8350.292.93.4340.353.64.3320.434.45.2310.515.46.3280.60
2.93.4440.453.74.3420.554.55.3400.675.66.5380.806.87.9360.94
3.74.3550.724.65.4530.885.76.7511.067.08.2481.278.510.1451.50
4.45.1661.005.56.3631.236.87.8611.508.39.6571.7810.111.7542.11
5.36.1791.456.67.6761.788.29.4732.1610.0011.5692.5712.214.0643.04
6.57.4972.168.19.3932.6610.011.5893.2212.214.1843.8414.917.1794.53
7.48.51102.799.210.61063.4311.413.11014.1613.916.0964.9616.919.4895.86
8.29.51233.5010.311.81194.3012.714.61135.2115.617.91076.2218.921.81007.34
9.410.51414.5111.813.21365.5514.516.31306.7217.819.91238.0221.624.21159.48
10.611.91585.7113.214.81537.0216.418.31468.5120.022.413810.1624.327.212912.00
11.813.21767.0514.716.51708.6618.220.416210.5022.224.915412.5327.030.314414.81
13.214.81988.9016.518.419110.9520.522.818313.2725.027.917315.8330.433.916218.71
14.716.422010.9918.420.521213.5122.725.320316.3827.831.019219.5533.837.718023.10
16.518.424613.7920.623.023816.9525.528.422720.5431.134.721624.5237.842.220128.97
18.520.727717.4523.225.826721.4528.631.925626.0035.039.024231.0342.647.522636.67
20.923.331222.1626.129.130127.2432.336.028833.0139.444.027339.4148.053.525546.56
23.526.235228.1329.432.834034.5836.440.532541.9144.449.630850.0354.160.332459.11
26.529.439635.5233.1336.738243.6840.945.436652.9450.055.534763.1960.867.574.67
29.432.644043.8536.840.842553.9245.550.540665.3655.661.738578.01
32.936.649355.0041.245.747667.6350.956.545581.97
37.141.155569.6246.351.453585.6057.363.6512103.75

Physical Properties

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a thermoplastic material which is supplied by the manufacturer in a ‘ready to use’ pelletised form. There are several different grades available. The particular grades suitable for pipe manufacture are referred to as PE63, PE80, & PE100. The pipe manufacturer simply converts this material into pressure pipe.

Table Of Physical Properties

The properties given below are for HDPE pipe materials. It should be noted that many of these properties are relative to temperature and the duration of stress application.

Property
Value
Unit
Test
Method
Test Specimen
Density at 23¼C
0.958g/cm3
ISO 1183
10mm x 10mm x 4mm
Viscosity Number
380ml/g
ISO 1628-3
0.1% solution of granules in decahydronaphthalene
Melt Flow Rate
MFR 190/5
0.23g/10min
ISO 1133
granules
sample weight 3g to 6g
MFR 190/21.6
6.5g/10min
Tensile Properties
Yield Stress
26N/mm2
ISO 527
Test Rate
50mm/min
ISO 3167, 4mm thick
(test specimen No. 3, 4mm thick according to DIN 53 455)
Elongation at
Yield Stress
10%
ISO 527
Test Rate
50mm/min
Tensile Modulus of Elasticity
(secant between 0.05
& 0.25% strain)
900N/mm2
ISO 527
Tensile Creep Modulus
(1 hour value) (1000 hour value)
650
350
N/mm2
N/mm2
ISO 899
Test Load
2M/mm2
Flexural Properties
Flexural Creep
Modulus (1 min value)
1,100 N/mm2
DIN 54 852- Z4
σb = 2N/mm2
110mm x 10mm x 4mm loaded flat
Flexural Stress (3.5% deflection)
20N/mm2
ISO 178 test Rate
2mm/min
80mm x 10mm x 4mm
Stiffness in Torsion
180N/mm2
DIN 53 447
60mm x 6.35mm x 3mm
Hardness
Ball Indentation Hardness
41N/mm2
ISO 2039 part
1 Test Load
132N
Sheet, 4mm
Shore Hardness
D
(3 sec value)
15 sec value)
61
59
~
~
ISO 868
Sheet, 6mm
Notched Impact Strength
(test specimen from
compression moulded
sheet)
at 23°C
20kJ/m2
ISO 179/1eA
80mm x 10mm x 4mm
at -30°C
10
Vicat Softening Point67°C
ISO 306
Sheet, 4mm
Oxidation Induction Time
200°C in O2
>60
min.
ISO TR 10837
Granules

Comparison with other Materials

Property
HDPE
PP
PVC
PVC - C*
PB*
Surface feel
Waxy
Waxy
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Appearance
(water pipes)
Black
Pale grey- beige
Blue
Grey-beige
Black
Sound produced
when dropped
Medium clatter
High clatter
High clatter
High clatter
Dull thud
Combustibility and
appearance of flame
Bright flame: Drops
continue to burn
while falling
Bright flame: Drops
continue to burn
while falling
Carbonises in flame:
extinguishes away
from flame
Carbonises in flame:
extinguishes away
from flame
Bright flame: Drops
continue to burn
while falling
Odour of smoke after
flame is extinguished
Like candles
Like resin
Pungent like
hydrochloric acid
Pungent like
hydrochloric acid
Like candles but more
acrid than HDPE
Nail test Impression
made by fingernail
Impression
possible
Very slight
impression possible
Impression not
possible
Impression not
possible
Impression easily
produced
Special featuresSmears when sawn
Floats in waterYes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Notch sensitivityNo
Slight
Yes
Yes
Yes
Weather resistanceStabilised good
Stabilised good
Stabilised good
Stabilised good
Stabilised good
Method of
pent joining
Fusion
Fusion
Solvent cement
Solvent cement
Fusion
Suitable for
mechanical jointing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Stress crack sensitivity
with regard to jointing
for safe media e.g.water
Some
Slight
None
None
None
Linear expansion
mm/m°C
0.20.150.080.070.12
Thermal conductivity
kcal/mh°C
0.400.190.140.140.20
Specific heat
kcal/mh°C
0.420.40.230.230.47
Specific weight
Kg/cm2
0.9550.9051.421.50.92
Tensile strength at 20°C
240320550550200
Modulus of elasticity
at 20°C (kp/cm2)
8,000 15,000 30,000 30,000 5,000

Expansion & Contraction

Material
Coeffecient Of Expansion (K-1)
mPVC
8 x 10-5
HDPE
20 x 10-5
LDPE
20 x 10-5
Steel
1.2 x 10-5
Copper
2.0 x 10-5

All plastics have high coefficients of expansion and contraction several times those of metals. This must be allowed for in any installation by the use of expansion joints, expansion loops etc.

 

The Stress Regression Line

The traditional method of portraying the primary mechanical property of HDPE, tensile strength, is by no means of a graph of log stress vs log time to failure. This is known as the stress regression line.

It is a plot of the circumferential hoop stress in the wall of the pipe (from internal pressure) against time to failure.

Numerous actual test results, measured at 20°C & 60°C, over a range of time up to 10,000 hours, are plotted on a log scale & a regression line is cancelled to fit this data. The resultant regression line is then extrapolated to 50 years (438,000 hours). The method of calculation is an internationally accepted procedure described in ISO/TR 9080. The required values of stress & time are specified in SABS ISO 4427.

The internationally accepted method for calculating circumferential hoop stress is derived from Barlow’s formula & is as follows:

Circumferential Hoop Stress σ = P(d-t)/2t

where P = internal pressure (MPa); t = minimum wall thickness (mm); d = mean external diameter (mm)

Stress Regression Curve

line graph of stress regression line

Jointing

One of the greatest features of HDPE pipes is the fact that a wide variety of jointing systems is available to suit a whole range of applications. The jointing systems can be divided into 2 main categories with further sub-divisions in each category.

Permanent Jointing

butt welding

Non-Permanent / Detachable Jointing

compression fittings and flanging