Dave Finkelnburg on thu 30 nov 06
Wayne,
You know I love ya, you're a great guy, you know a
ton of good stuff, but I can't tell you how strongly I
feel compressed air should NEVER be piped through
rigid plastic pipe. Fred Parker has it right.
The problem with PVC/CPVC plastic is the failure
mode. IF it ever fails, the failure can be
catastrophic. The pipe literally explodes! It blows
pieces of plastic around that become dangerous
shrapnel.
Metal pipe doesn't fail that way. It can split, or
leak, but it hangs together...pieces of it don't fly
off across the room.
What causes rigid plastic pipe to fail? It gets
hit with a hard object and cracks, or it gets nicked
with a sharp object...things that do happen, and when
they do the original strength doesn't matter any more.
Writing as an engineer who designs process piping
installations for industrial situations, I tell you I
would never permit rigid plastic pipe to be connected
to a device that could compress any gas more than a
few pounds per square inch (nor more than 25 kPa).
Threaded, galvanized steel or black iron will work
fine and last a long time. Use a safe, metal pipe or
else a hose for compressed air.
All the best!
Dave Finkelnburg in wintery Idaho, USA
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