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Choosing the Right Brand for Your Project
PEX pipes are manufactured from high density polyethylene. The polyethylene particles are subjected to very high temperatures and pressure to create strong and flexible pipes that are resilient to breakage, extreme temperatures and chemical attach. This makes them ideal for plumbing and radiant cooling systems among other applications.
PEX pipe are a good alternative to PVCs are they are not only easy to install, but are also affordable. Their durability is also much high as compared to other radiant and piping systems such as copper and PVCs. PEX pipes have less joints, and so, they rarely lick or break, even installed within a slab or underground.
Types of PEX Pipes
Generally, PEX pipes are classified into 3 types; namely PEX-a, PEX-b and PEX-c. Although each type is manufactured using a different process, they are all ideal for specific applications. Therefore, it is not actually possible to say which is better than the other. Letters a, b and c are used to denote the different processes that has been used to make each type. The choice of the type of PEX pipe will depend on your budget, your level of skill as well as where you are going to install them.
PEX-a is made using peroxide or Engel. The process involves subjecting the polyethylene molecules to a high temperature that is above the melting temperature which is supposed to decompose it. This facilitates the cross-linking of the substance, making it very strong and consistent.
PEX-b is produced with Cure moisture, or “Silane”. Cross-linking of high density polyethylene molecules is done under high temperatures with Silane as the catalyst and then exposed to moisture. This makes the substance to solidify resulting to a hard substance that is resilient to chemical corrosion and breakage. This method is very popular with many manufacturers although the end product is not as strong as PEX-a.
PEX-c is made using a beam of electronic radiation. A ray of electron radiation is exposed to the molecules of polyethylene to facilitate cross-linking by breaking the existing bonds in the particles to create a more strong substance. However, PEX pipes created through this process are more fragile as compared PEX-a and PEX-b since weak points can easily emerge in the molecular bonds of the substance created, and hence are less expensive. PEX-c pipes have many ways of termination and jointing, and so, they are easy to install.
Source: PEX Universe Learning Center
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