Ductile, Durable, and Reliable
WL Plastics HDPE pipe is strong, resilient, and highly ductile. It is able to flex under stress and return to shape. It withstands extreme temperatures, seismic activity, pressure surges, deep burial, and UV exposure.
What is HDPE
As a top manufacturer of high-quality HDPE piping in North America, we deliver dependable, long-lasting, and cost-efficient pipe solutions tailored to diverse industry needs.
What is HDPE?
High-Density Polyethene (HDPE) is a strong, durable thermoplastic made from petroleum. Known for its excellent strength-to-density ratio, HDPE pipe is the ideal choice for oil and gas gathering, potable water, wastewater, mining and industrial systems, power and communications, and natural gas distribution applications. HDPE pipe’s flexibility, durability, chemical and corrosion resistance, and other beneficial properties make it a long-term, cost-effective solution for all your piping needs.
What Does HDPE Stand For?
HDPE stands for High-Density Polyethylene, a specific category of polyethylene plastic known for its rigidity, durability, and resistance to environmental stress. It is a material which is particularly suited to use in high-pressure piping systems. This is because in comparison to the other types of Polyethene which are MDPE (Medium-Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene), HDPE provides higher tensile strength and temperature resistance.
HDPE Material Properties
HDPE is a material that exhibits a unique set of material and chemical properties which make it particularly suited to high-demand piping installations, particularly in comparison with the less tough materials MDPE and LDPE. WL Plastics utilises PE4710 resin mixed with a carbon black masterbatch to manufacture its HDPE pipe. This HDPE compound has an ASTM D3350 cell classification of 445574C. Its properties include:
- High strength-to-density ratio: HDPE is lightweight but incredibly tough.
- Resistance to impact: It is a material which can withstand tough environmental conditions and mechanical stress.
- Corrosion and chemical resistant: Unaffected by most chemicals, microbes, and soil conditions.
- Flexibility and toughness: Because HDPE is able to withstand high levels of stress, it is ideal for trenchless piping installations, which do not use traditional open-cut excavation techniques.
- UV degradation resistant: The 2% to 3% well-dispersed carbon black content in WL Plastics HDPE pipe makes it indefinitely resistant to UV degradation
- Thermal performance: Performs reliably under a range of conditions.
Common Applications of HDPE
HDPE piping systems are trusted across a wide range of industries due to their adaptability and performance. It can be used for all non-pressure applications (sewage, drainage, and conduit) where fluid temperature is 180°F or lower and all pressure piping applications where fluid temperature is 140°F or lower (see WL118 for explanation of pressure ratings) installed above or below ground. HDPE is commonly used in:
- Water and wastewater: Avoids the risk of corrosion that comes with metal piping while maintaining a leak-free system. Potable water pipe is made to AWWA C901 and AWWA C906 specifications at NSF61-certified facilities. See WL115 for more information on potable water pipes. Wastewater pipe is typically made to the ASTM F714 specification in IPS sizes (see WL102).
- Natural gas: Polyethylene pipe is the most common pipe material in the distribution of natural gas because of its leak-free joining system, strength, flexibility, and low installation cost compared to other materials such as steel. Oil and gas gathering HDPE pipe is typically made to ASTM F2619 specifications.
- Geothermal: HDPE is ideal for geothermal systems thanks to its long coils, heat-fused joints, flexibility, and thermal conductivity. Typically made to ASTM F714 in IPS sizes (see WL102). Learn more in WL139.
- Agriculture and irrigation: HDPE pipe is ideal for irrigation in lawns, farms, and golf courses due to its strength, flexibility, UV resistance, and leak-free performance. See WL102 (IPS), WL137 (CTS), and WL138 (SIDR) for details.
- Electrical power and telecommunications: HDPE conduit offers a leak-free, non-conductive solution for electrical and telecom wiring, unlike metallic options. See WL134 for details.
HDPE is especially suited for trenchless installation methods such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and pipe bursting, offering extended service life with minimal disruption. Thanks to its flexibility, strength, and resistance to cracking or fatigue, HDPE pipe can be pulled through long, curved bores without damage. This makes it ideal for horizontal directional drilling, where the pipe must withstand the mechanical stresses of pulling and bending. In pipe bursting applications, where old or failing pipes are fractured and replaced in place, HDPE’s durability and joint-free fusion installation allow for smooth replacement with minimal risk of leakage or failure.
Applications of Polyethylene Piping
Polyethylene piping can provide irrigation for gardens, farms, and other settings. This includes intake and delivery pipes for flood irrigation and sprinklers for watering crops, lawns, gardens, or golf courses. For orchards and nurseries that require drip irrigation, Polyethylene piping is both strong and lightweight.
Using PE Pipe(s) to transport drinking water avoids the risk of corrosion that comes with metal piping while maintaining a leak free system.
Polyethylene pipes are a good solution for residential sewage disposal, fertilizer transportation, and waste disposal in the petrochemical industry. H2S gas from these applications does not harmfully affect Polyethylene pipe.
Polyethylene piping can provide secure coverage for electrical and telecommunications cables because of its resistance to water and other environmental hazards. The material can prevent cable malfunctions due to damage.
Piping to drain surface water, rainwater, and subsoil water needs to be strong and corrosion-resistant. Polyethylene pipes work well for drainage as well as wastewater mains.
Polyethylene pipes are the most commonly used pipe in the transfer and distribution of natural gas to customers. This is because of its leak-free joining system, strength, flexibility and low cost.
Polyethylene vs. Other Materials
To fully understand the benefits of Polyethylene, consider the material in comparison with its common alternatives in water applications.
Ductile Iron
Ductile iron is commonly used for industrial water and sewage pipes. The main benefit touted by ductile iron manufacturers is its tensile strength being higher than other types of thermoplastics. However, it is more expensive and susceptible to corrosion.
PVC
PVC is a vinyl polymer, while Polyethylene is a thermoplastic. PVC has a higher tensile strength than Polyethylene pipe but is less flexible. PVC is not resistant to UV damage and is susceptible to fatigue failures due to surge events. PVC and ductile iron both use bell and spigot joints which can leak whereas Polyethylene pipe has a fused joint system that is leak-free.
Reliable Polyethylene Piping Solutions from WL Plastics
Polyethylene is a versatile thermoplastic made of ethylene monomers. The material’s simple, linear molecular structure makes it strong, dense, and durable. It is resistant to heat, cold, corrosion, and water damage, which means it is an ideal material for underground pipes in many applications.
WL Plastics’ Polyethylene pipes meet industry standards, strict safety regulations, and specific customer needs. With nine state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the United States, we have the capacity to produce more than 800 million pounds of Polyethylene piping per year. Our high-volume production allows us to manufacture these pipes at the lowest possible cost for our customers while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
