Water Supply Pipes and Fittings

The drive to conserve water resources has found a focus on the reliability of water distribution systems and the elimination of losses through pipe failures. 

Borealis has addressed this issue with the introduction of BorSafe™, a new family of robust high density PE80 and PE100 grades developed specifically for pressure pipes and pressure fittings.  Designed for both large and small, water main and mains/domestic connection pipes, BorSafe as a solution answers to the specific needs of the entire value chain. Some of these needs include:

• easy processing properties giving outstanding extrudability;
• excellent low sag behaviour;
• superior resistance to slow crack growth.

The increased durability and stress crack resistance of pipes manufactured from BorSafe means they are unaffected by ground movement and traffic vibration loads. 

Moreover, our latest grade of BorSafe, HE3490-LS-H, is particularly suited to the tougher installation techniques now being employed and which have a more aggressive impact on pipes. These include trenchless laying methods that enable installations to be delivered faster, with less environmental disturbance and at lower cost, such as ‘pipe bursting’ for the relining of metal pipes, swage lining and slip lining.

Additionally, BorSafe pipes can be fusion jointed thereby minimising the use of mechanical joints and further reducing the risk of leakages.
  
BorSafe manufactured pipes deliver:

• high quality PE pipe material for drinking water distribution;
• durability, corrosion resistance and better hydraulic capacity over a 100-year service life;
• stability in longer length, large diameter pipes.

Unique grade for injection moulding PE100 fittings

Adding complementary value, Borealis has developed a unique BorSafe high density PE grade specifically for injection moulding PE100 pressure pipe fittings.  Designated BorSafe HE3490-IM, this new material solution allows fittings manufacturers to achieve:

• shorter cycle time through lower injections temperature;
• improved mechanical properties with low internal stresses and less warpage;
• better surface finish compared to conventional PE100 materials.

Importantly, BorSafe HE3490-IM exhibits the ease of processing experienced with a PE80 material and aids production efficiency and cost reduction through significantly lower scrap rates particularly of fittings with intricate designs.

All BorSafe grades are produced using Borealis’ proprietary Borstar® PE 2G technology, the latest multi-modal processes that allow the tailoring of PE at molecular level to achieve an optimal balance between mechanical strength and processability.