PEX | MATERIALS
Hot stuff: latest in
PEX pipe
PEX pipe is synonymous with plumbing applications. Recent developments include a new recycling method, a major European order and research on the possible effects of leaching
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe is now commonly used in building and construction applications. And, while it has many advantages – such as good temperature resistance and tough- ness – it is also under scrutiny for its potential adverse health effects. Uponor in North America was a winner in this
year’s Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) awards, in the building and construction division – for its part in fitting out a new apartment building in Orlando, Florida.
Society Orlando is a two-tower, 1.5 million sq ft, high-rise project in downtown Orlando. One tower is a 330ft, 26-storey building with 462 units; the other is a 16-storey building with 245 units. As well as 707 rental apartments, the finished structure will have 36,000 sq ft of office and retail space. HVAC mechanicals for the project include a hybrid air-and-water system involving condenser- chilled water from a rooftop cooling tower through 800ft of PP-RCT pipe in diameters up to 10in. The water runs through vertical risers of 12,600ft of Wirsbo Hepex PEX pipe, which branch off to fancoil units inside the apartments. A second return line of the same materials follows a similar route in reverse, carrying warmed water from the apartments back to the cooling tower to be chilled again. The project also uses 138,000ft of Uponor’s
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AquaPEX pipe and ProPEX fittings – including multiport tees –in diameters from 0.5 to 1in for the domestic water system.
PEX from recyclate In Europe, Uponor has teamed up with Neste, Borealis and Wastewise to make PEX pipes from chemically recycled feedstock – which itself is derived from PEX pipe. The partners believe this is one of the first implementations of chemical recycling of PEX. The co-operation sees Wastewise use its
pyrolysis-based chemical recycling technology to liquefy industrial waste from Uponor’s PEX pipe production. It then breaks the polymer back into its building blocks, to create an oil-like raw material. This is then co-processed in Neste’s oil refinery in Finland and upgraded into RETM – a drop-in feedstock for making new polymers. Borealis feeds the raw material into its steam cracker and poly- merises it into polyethylene as part of its Borcycle C chemical recycling portfolio. Finally, Uponor uses the PE to create new PEX
pipe, which is used in the construction sector for heating, plumbing and cooling purposes. It can even be used for sensitive applications with high requirements, such as drinking water systems. “We are excited about this collaboration as it
September 2023 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 35
Main image: Uponor and partners have made PEX pipe from chemi- cally recycled feedstock – which is derived from PEX pipe
IMAGE: UPONOR
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