Metal in household communications is gradually replacing various materials from polymers. The properties of polypropylene are especially attractive to the consumer, allowing it to be used for all household communications.

Polypropylene is resistant to corrosion and deposits, does not change properties under the influence of aggressive chemicals. Water transported through systems made of this material does not lose its properties. The large throughput is also important, due to the completely smooth inner surface.

Types of reinforcement

Non-reinforced polypropylene is characterized by low thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance. Over time, it changes shape. This property is called fluidity, which requires the installation of fasteners every 50 cm of the pipeline.

Fluidity is especially pronounced at elevated temperatures of the internal environment. The main purpose of reinforcement is to reduce this quality. After reinforcement, the polypropylene material becomes more rigid, sags less when laid in a horizontal position, which makes the system more stable.

The aluminum tape reduces the coefficient of linear expansion to a level that is comparable to that of metal products. In addition, aluminum contributes to a decrease in oxygen conductivity. Even better quality when reinforced with fiberglass. This material makes installation easier than aluminum tape as there is no need for stripping prior to soldering. It is also important that products with fiberglass are cheaper than products with aluminum tape.

For reinforcement, solid or perforated aluminum foil can be used. It can be located near the outer shell or in the middle of the wall. The solid foil is bonded to the polypropylene with hot melt adhesive. The use of low-quality raw materials in the production entails delamination during operation.

A similar phenomenon is impossible if perforated aluminum is used for reinforcement. Holes in the foil make it possible to create a monolithic connection between plastic and aluminum without using glue.

When choosing polypropylene products, it should be borne in mind that some manufacturers, in order to reduce costs, use low-quality raw materials and make pipes have too thin walls. This entails delamination and instability to internal pressure. By external signs, it is quite difficult to distinguish a high-quality product from a low-quality one. You need to purchase material with the thickest walls (that is, one with a heavier running meter).

Recently, polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass have appeared on the market. Sometimes they are called fiberglass. If an aluminum-reinforced product, in fact, consists of five layers, then the use of fiberglass makes it possible to obtain a material with a monolithic structure, since the middle layer is the same polypropylene, but mixed with fiberglass. All three layers are not glued, but welded, which completely eliminates delamination.

However, fiberglass-reinforced products still have one drawback - their linear expansion is 6% greater than when using aluminum. Why do we need stripping for polypropylene pipes before soldering. Some reinforced products must be stripped before soldering to remove the outer layer of polypropylene and aluminum foil, which prevents a strong connection with the fitting.

Stripping reinforced polypropylene pipes is always required when aluminum is used for reinforcement, and regardless of where the foil is located. The only difference is the tool used. If aluminum is located in the middle of the wall, a trimmer is used. Fiberglass reinforced material does not require stripping, since it is all made of polypropylene.

Stripping tool

The cleaning tool for polypropylene pipes makes it possible to work with products with a diameter of 16 to 110 mm. For diameters up to 63 mm, double-sided couplings are produced, which allows you to clean the ends with two different diameters if the aluminum layer is located at the outer surface. The knives of this tool are made of non-blunt steel.

If the foil is located in the middle of the wall, a polypropylene pipe trimmer is required, equipped with adjustable knives, which makes it possible to adjust the tool to any diameter. Just like the coupling, the trimmer has a double-sided design (for two different diameters).

Facing polypropylene pipes is cutting the foil from the end to the welding depth. If this procedure is carried out incorrectly, aluminum will interfere with creating a reliable connection between the elements of the system, that is, the weld will not be of sufficient quality. During the operation of the system, water will interact with aluminum, which can lead to leakage and rust formation in heating appliances.

Another way to solve the problem of "how to strip a polypropylene pipe" is a nozzle on a drill (shaver). This method is used for a large amount of work to strip the outer layer of polypropylene and remove the reinforcing aluminum layer, if it is located at the outer surface. The body of the shaver is made of aluminum, the knives are made of tool steel.

Thanks to the shaver, stripping for polypropylene pipes is automated, facilitating and speeding up installation with a large amount of work.

Polypropylene pipes are found everywhere today. Such popularity is due to their high technical characteristics and, of course, low cost. The design of modern polypropylene pipes is reinforced with the so-called reinforcement, which can be made in two versions.

To carry out the correct and reliable installation of the reinforced pipeline, it is necessary to use special tools at the preparatory stages. One of these tools is a shaver for polypropylene pipes. Without its use, it is impossible to achieve the correct connection of pipes. It is the reliability of the design that determines the durability of the entire pipeline, as well as its operational characteristics.

What is the secret of reinforcement? As you know, plastic products have an unconditional number of advantages, such as:

• ease;
• low cost;
• ease of installation;
• plastic;
• wear resistance;
• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to the formation of microorganisms and corrosion.

However, along with these advantages, plastic pipes have two significant disadvantages. So, everyone knows that plastic is afraid of high temperatures. In this regard, the use of polypropylene pipes in pipelines where the coolant temperature will exceed 95 degrees above zero is strictly prohibited. At low temperatures, the use of polypropylene is also not recommended, it may crack. Among other things, plastic has a high level of thermal expansion, which leads to deformation of the pipes. This quality will have a bad effect in cases where pipes are masked under plaster or in other prominent places.

The need for reinforcement

It is because of these shortcomings. Why is it necessary? First of all, reinforcement eliminates the possibility of pipe deformation during expansion. In a sense, reinforcement saves pipes from overheating and excessive cooling, keeping them safe and sound.

How are polypropylene pipes reinforced? There are two versions:

1. reinforcement with aluminum foil;
2. fiberglass reinforcement.

In the first case, a layer of aluminum foil is applied to the inner or outer surface of the pipe, which in no case should come into contact with water. A shaver for polypropylene pipes can help avoid this contact. In the case when water does come into contact with the foil, the pipe structure is gradually destroyed, which requires repair.

The connection of plastic pipes to each other is carried out by means of fittings and glue. When gluing, the surface of polypropylene and the fitting dissolves somewhat, which, when solidified, creates a homogeneous, durable mass, which, in terms of characteristics, is not inferior to a solid polypropylene pipe. The admixture of aluminum in this mass worsens the strength characteristics of the structure, therefore, foil should not be allowed to enter.

In the second case, the installation of the pipeline system is carried out without any problems, since the fiberglass mesh is securely located between two layers of polypropylene. Here, no contact with water can occur, so the use of a shaver is not required.

Pipe stripping

As noted above, stripping is required only in the case of . In this case, stripping can be carried out in two ways, depending on the reinforcement option. So, with external reinforcement, you should resort to the help of one tool, and with internal reinforcement, another. Both instruments are difficult to distinguish from each other, since they are practically indistinguishable.

Stripping is the removal of reinforcement on the connecting section of the pipe, which will be glued to the fitting. The depth of foil removal depends on the depth of the fitting. In no case should you remove the foil with the help of improvised means - a knife or other sharp objects. This approach can adversely affect the condition of the pipe. Cleaning can only be done with the use of special tools.

Internal stripping is carried out using the so-called trimmer. Actually, the method of stripping is called facing. The trimmer is a small metal sleeve that can have one or two inlets. Modern trimmers are equipped with two inlets, each of which is designed for a pipe of a certain diameter. There are steel blades inside the holes. After the pipe is dipped into the trimmer, the tool is gently rotated while the blades cut off the aluminum layer.

On sale you can also find automatic trimmers, which are defined as nozzles for a drill. Such nozzles look the same as a manual trimmer, only supplemented with a metal rod designed to be immersed in a drill hole. The purchase of a nozzle is rational with regular cleaning work on pipes. In cases where trimming is necessary only a few times for self-replacement of pipes, the purchase of a nozzle is not rational.

Shaver

It's time to figure out what a shaver is and why it is needed. As noted in the previous paragraph, internal stripping of pipes requires the assistance of a trimmer. In the case of external stripping, the trimmer is not useful. This is where a shaver is required.

Recall that external reinforcement is an outer coating of a polypropylene pipe with aluminum foil. A shaver for stripping polypropylene pipes will help to produce from it. It is a cleaning tool that is not much different from a trimmer. Outwardly, it has the form of a coupling with one or two holes. These holes are necessary for immersing pipes. Inside the tool there are steel blades with which cleaning is carried out.

The body of this device is made of duralumin, which makes it incredibly light. In addition, the housing is not exposed to the environment, that is, it does not corrode or rust. The knives that the tool is equipped with are made of tool steel. In addition, each knife is equipped with protection against rapid blunting. For ease of use, the shaver is supplemented with removable handles, with the help of which it is much more convenient to carry out circular movements.

Dimensions and cost

It is not difficult to buy shavers in stores today. It is very important to choose the right size of the product. So, the range offers tools designed for pipes with a diameter of 16-110 mm. It is convenient to purchase a tool that is capable of processing pipes of two sizes. It is important to remember that double-sided shavers are available for pipes whose diameter does not exceed 63 or 90 mm. On sale are products for pipes, the dimensions of which are:

• 20/25 mm;
• 32/40 mm;
• 50/63 mm;
• 75/90 mm;
• 75 mm;
• 90 mm;
• 110 mm.

Prices for this tool vary depending on the size of the product. So, small shavers can be purchased for 500-600 rubles, while large ones are within two thousand.

As in the case of the trimmer, the shaver can be automatic, that is, in the form of a drill attachment. Such a tool is supplemented with a pin for connecting to a drill. The sizes of such shavers are somewhat different, as they are designed for pipes with a diameter of 20 to 110 mm. Of course, nozzles can only be one-sided. The cost of such tools varies from 350 rubles to 2000.

How to use the shaver? The algorithm of actions is simple, as in the case of the trimmer. The pipe is immersed in the opening of the product, after which the product, with the help of removable handles, rotates. When turned, the blades come into action and carefully remove the aluminum foil. It is not worth making turns for too long, as the polypropylene base may be damaged.

In the event that the blades become unusable, they can be replaced with new ones. They are available for sale in specialized stores. When buying, you should know the right size and manufacturer of the tool in order to select the right products. For a single cleaning of pipes, it is recommended to resort to using a hand tool, since it is cost-effective to use an automatic tool only for continuous work with pipes.

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Stripping for pipes of two types: technology and tools

What types of pipes require stripping? What is it for? What tool is used for this? Finally, how to properly clean the pipes in each case? In this article I will try to answer these questions.

Types of pipes

In one way or another, they need to be cleaned:

• Black steel pipes. They are cleaned of rust and other contaminants for painting and before manual threading;

In the second case, rust is not simply removed from the ends of the pipe. An entry for a die or a die is formed on them - the outer chamfer is removed at an angle of about 15 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

• Polypropylene pipes reinforced with aluminum foil.

Why is it needed

Steel

Cleaning before painting is designed to ensure maximum adhesion of the paint to the substrate. Painting over rust (especially seam) ensures that the decorative and anti-corrosion coating peels off in the shortest possible time. An alternative to stripping is the use of rust converters - phosphating compounds that turn iron oxides into a strong and chemically resistant film, on which paintwork materials can be applied directly.

Agree that painting a professional pipe in this state without stripping is not the best idea.

The threading approach allows the die or die to cut the first threads with minimal clamping force. The larger the chamfer angle, the stronger you have to press the die against the end of the pipe. If there is no chamfer, the tool, even with the maximum clamping force, will not enter the pipe or will break the first thread of the thread over and over again.

Polypropylene

Why do we need stripping for reinforced polypropylene pipes?

I'll start from afar.

Polypropylene has two problems associated with its work in hot water and heating systems.

1. When heated, the tensile strength of the pipe decreases. If at +20 PN 20 pipes are able to withstand a hydraulic pressure of 20 kgf / cm2, then when heated to a maximum of 95 ° C, the allowable pressure decreases to 7 - 9 atmospheres. No wonder: polypropylene is a typical thermoplastic with all the ensuing consequences;
2. The polymer has a very high (even compared to other plastics) coefficient of linear expansion when heated. If you raise the temperature of the pipe by 50 degrees, each meter of it will lengthen by 6.5 millimeters.

Both problems are successfully solved reinforcement.

It can be done in two ways:

1. By mixing into the polymer melt fibers- chopped glass or basalt fiber. The middle reinforced layer of the pipe is fused with layers of pure polymer without reinforcement into a single whole during the extrusion process;
2. Bonded between two layers of polypropylene layer aluminum foil about 0.5 mm thick. The quality of an aluminum-reinforced pipe strongly depends on the technology of its manufacture and the one used.

The typical working pressure of reinforced pipes is 25 atmospheres (as indicated by the designation "PN 25" in the marking). When heated, it decreases to 10-12 kgf/cm2. The elongation during heating also noticeably decreases:

A steel pipe under similar conditions is extended by 0.5 - 0.55 mm.

For obvious reasons, pipes reinforced with foil are most in demand for hot water supply and heating. However, one unpleasant surprise awaits the happy buyer: aluminum forms galvanic couples with copper and steel, which are often present in heating and hot water circuits.

The small thickness of the foil causes it to collapse due to electrochemical corrosion upon contact with water in just 2-3 seasons. As a result of its destruction, the pipe at the end, inside the socket fitting, begins to delaminate with a catastrophic drop in strength accompanying this process. A relatively weak water hammer or noticeable heating ends the career of such a pipeline ahead of schedule.

The obvious solution to this problem — remove the aluminum reinforcing layer from the welding zone. Cleaning of polypropylene pipes is the preparation of the end of the pipe for soldering with a fitting, which boils down to cutting the foil from the surface of the pipe (with external reinforcement) or between two layers of polypropylene (with internal reinforcement).

Tools

Steel

Steel pipes are prepared for painting using:

• Manual metal brush;

• Nozzles similar in functionality to a drill or grinder.

Stripping the profile pipe can be partly automated. The simplest machine for stripping pipes from rust is a cartridge with a brush clamped into it, planted on an electric motor shaft, and a movable thrust roller with a locking mechanism that allows processing pipes of arbitrary section. The pipe is slowly pulled through the machine by hand with a 90 or 180 degree turn between successive brush passes.

In the photo - the simplest machine for stripping rust from a professional pipe.

How can you prepare the end of the pipe for threading?

• file for metal;

• Bulgarian with a cutting wheel for steel;

The pipe will have to be turned with a circle plane. Avoid pushing too hard: broken circle fragments often cause serious injury.

• Finally, in the absence of a more suitable tool, a pipe with a diameter of 15 - 25 mm can simply be slightly crushed in a circle with a gas wrench or blows of a heavy hammer.

Polypropylene

A stripping tool for polypropylene pipes is most often called stripping. In stores with a more qualified merchandiser, you can find more accurate names:

• Shaver is a stripping for external reinforcement;
• The trimmer allows you to cut a foil layer glued into the middle of the wall between polymer layers of approximately the same thickness.

And this tool can be manual (with a notch on the outer surface or comfortable handles), made for installation in a drill or puncher chuck. Often it is equipped with a pair of knives, which allows you to remove the outer chamfer from the end of the pipe.

The nozzle is a shaver chambered for a perforator.

The price of the tool is determined by the size, functions and manufacturer. Here, for example, is the cost of a line of trimmers from Valtec, designed for installation in a punch chuck.

Technology

I sincerely hope that the instruction for stripping pipes from rust and chamfering is not required by the dear reader: this is a simple mechanical work, devoid of any subtleties.

Do-it-yourself stripping for polypropylene pipes is not much more difficult:

1. After examining the cut of the pipe, select the appropriate tool (shaver or trimmer);
2. Insert the pipe into its socket;
3. Make several full turns.

Trimmer knives remove reinforcement to a depth of only about 2 mm. Cleaning the pipe takes 5 to 15 seconds.

Conclusion

We will consider our acquaintance with simple stripping technologies to have taken place. Additional materials, as always, can be studied by watching the video in this article. I look forward to your additions and comments. Good luck, comrades!

July 22, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Features of the reinforcement of polypropylene pipes
Stripping polypropylene pipes
Stripping tools

Stripping and reinforcing polypropylene pipes are not the most difficult tasks, but there are many nuances in them. This will be discussed in the article.

One of the advantages of polypropylene pipes is their long service life. They can be used many times longer than metal products. But the service life largely depends on the quality of the installation work. It can be increased as much as possible if the reinforced polypropylene pipes were cleaned correctly.

It plays such a high role due to the fact that the presence of various bumps and burrs will prevent a reliable connection. Even during the planning of the installation of a polypropylene pipeline, it is worth delving into why this procedure is required. It is also worth figuring out what tools exist for stripping polypropylene pipes (read: “What tool is needed for polypropylene pipes and how to use it during installation”). Special attention should be paid to products with a reinforcing layer.

High performance properties of polypropylene pipes are achieved due to their coating with a protective layer. If we are talking about products intended for domestic use, then usually its thickness is not more than 0.1 mm.

Advantages of reinforced pipes:

1. Reducing the impact of high temperatures on the product. An ordinary polypropylene pipe is designed for operation in conditions where the temperature does not exceed 95 degrees. This is usually sufficient for the installation of heating systems or domestic plumbing. However, in certain situations, such as emergency situations, the temperature of the transported liquid may exceed the maximum allowable value. This mode of operation leads to the fact that sections of the pipeline are deformed or completely fail. Reinforcement reduces the impact of high temperatures on the product, preventing system breaks.
2. Increased resistance to temperature changes. One of the main disadvantages of conventional polypropylene pipes is their susceptibility to temperature changes. The result is their sharp expansion and contraction. The product does not tolerate such deformations, gradually losing its original properties. Over time, the pipes will simply fail. To avoid this situation, they are additionally reinforced.

However, reinforcement has one significant drawback. It somewhat complicates the welding of polypropylene joints. For this reason, pipe cleaning is required beforehand. The procedure is extremely simple: removing the top thin layer of aluminum from the product. If this is not done, the quality of welding will decrease, which will lead to a decrease in the service life of the entire pipeline.

It is important to do the work carefully, understanding the general principle. To better understand everything, study the technological process, as well as prepare the necessary tools. Detailed information on these issues will be presented later in the article.

Stripping polypropylene pipes

There are several stripping methods, each of them is designed for a specific reinforcing layer.

outer layer. If reinforcement is applied as the top layer of a polypropylene pipe, then it will become an obstacle when connecting the structure to the fitting. Then the pipe section included in it melts during installation. If you miss the stripping, then the molten aluminum will not be able to bond with the molten polymer. In this case, nothing will ensure the tightness of the connection. It will break immediately after the system is started.

The inner layer. Despite the fact that aluminum located between the polypropylene layers is not used for welding, it still needs high-quality cleaning. It is necessary in order to prevent the interaction of aluminum and water. If a potential jump occurs in the pipeline, then there is a risk of electrochemical processes. They can completely destroy the aluminum layer.

Clue! It is possible to apply a reinforcing layer of aluminum in one piece or with holes. If there is a choice, then the second option is much more preferable. The perforated aluminum layer has good adhesion and does not require glue. In addition, stripping a pipe with perforated aluminum is much faster.

fiberglass reinforcement. In this embodiment, do-it-yourself stripping for polypropylene pipes is not required. Between the layers of polypropylene is placed a thin wall of fiberglass. It does not come into contact with the fitting, nor is it exposed to liquid. One of the advantages of this method is that reliable fastening of pipes is achieved without additional work. But one drawback follows from this - sudden temperature changes have a greater effect on such products than on options with aluminum reinforcement.

Stripping tools

There are manual and mechanical stripping tools for polypropylene pipes. Hand tools are great for doing work at home. If there is a more voluminous task, then mechanical tools will already be required.

Types of cleaning tools:

1. Stripping for the outer layer. To remove the outer layer of aluminum, special couplings are used, in the middle of which blades are placed. In such devices there are handles (removable and non-removable), which greatly simplify the workflow.
2. Trimmers.

   Stripping for propylene reinforced pipes

   In such a tool, the blades are located on the inner end of the coupling, and not on the outside. The trimmer is threaded into the pipe, then it is necessary to do several full turns. This allows you to get the perfect cut. Then you can proceed to welding products. Such pipe stripping tools are also used for other types, not only polypropylene ones. Even those without a reinforcing layer are suitable.

3. Shaver. This is a special drill attachment used to clean both the inner and outer layers of the pipe. There are shavers designed for different types of reinforcement. They vary in diameter.

An important nuance! It is worth understanding the difference between cleaning pipes before welding with cleaning metal products. These are two different types of work. Each of them uses different equipment. In addition, they have different technological processes, which should also be taken into account.

Also, for stripping polymer pipes, you will need: a tape measure, the necessary stripping tool, a construction pencil for marking, a soldering iron, as well as scissors, a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. These are popular tools, they can be found in almost every home.

To obtain a perfect pipe cut, high alloy steel tools should be used. Bilateral solutions are preferred. Such a tool is effective when working with products of different diameters.

Stripping for polypropylene pipes is not particularly difficult. One person can cope with the task, special knowledge is not needed for this. It also does not require expensive tools. Simple machines will do just fine. Even with their help, cleaning can be done quite efficiently and accurately. It is enough just to prepare everything in advance, having carefully studied the technological process of this task.

Stripping for polypropylene pipes is used for high-quality welding of products reinforced with aluminum foil. In the process of work, a layer of polymer and aluminum is removed to the depth necessary to connect the pipe to the fitting. At the same time, the cleaned edges of communications remain smooth and even. Shavers for stripping come in several types. Simple hand tools are well suited for one-time jobs, while automatic designs allow industrial-scale processing of products.

Why is reinforcement needed?

Polypropylene communications have many advantages and a number of disadvantages in their application.

They are well suited for transporting hot and cold water supplies. Withstand temperatures up to 95 degrees. Short-term temperature fluctuations are allowed.

At the same time, polypropylene has a high degree of thermal expansion. Due to its special flexibility, the material is able to recover when the situation normalizes. Nevertheless, deformation, even temporary, is highly undesirable, especially when the structure is laid inside the walls.

To avoid emergency situations, they began to produce reinforced pipes for water supply. Thanks to the reinforcement, communications expand and do not deform at high water temperatures.

But in some cases, even these pipes can fail. During transportation of water over 100 degrees, polypropylene, at the junction with the fitting, may soften. This will cause the water line to break.

Reinforced pipes are not recommended for industrial water supply.

Reinforcement of pipes made of polypropylene is of two types:

• reinforced with fiberglass - do not require stripping. They are three-layer construction. Two layers - outer and inner, consist of polypropylene, and the middle layer is a mixture of polymer and fiberglass.
• reinforced with aluminum foil - this is the most common method of reinforcement. Here aluminum layers of different sizes are used - from 0.1 mm. up to 0.5 mm. Aluminum can be outside or inside the polypropylene pipe, between plastic layers

Why do you need to clean reinforced pipes?

Cleaning of reinforced polypropylene pipes is needed in order to remove the reinforcement layer from the part of the structure where pipe sections and fittings will be soldered.

External cleaning.

Part 4. Stripping polypropylene pipes

This type of work is applied when the aluminum layer is on the surface of the pipe. If you do not clean the metal part, then it will be impossible to weld pipe sections. Therefore, using a special tool, it is necessary to remove the surface of the pipe with aluminum to the depth necessary for a high-quality connection of the fitting and pipe sections.

If the aluminum foil is inside the material, then a shaver is used to strip the metal inside the cavity. In this case, stripping is used so that the metal does not come into contact with water at the junctions of pipes and fittings. If undesirable consequences occur, electrochemical processes will begin inside the communications, which will lead to corrosion and destruction of the reinforcing layer.

Tools for stripping polypropylene pipes

Several types of tools are used for stripping reinforced pipes. It can be a trimmer for manual work, as well as special nozzles for using a drill. Hand shavers are equipped with removable or non-removable handles for ease of use. And nozzles that are designed for drills are inserted instead of a drill.

Working with a mechanical tool requires special care, because polypropylene is an elastic material, it is easy to damage it.

To carry out the work you will need:

• pencil for marking the level of stripping;
• scissors for plastic products;
• special welding machine;
• cleaning tool for polypropylene pipes

The tool, designed for cleaning polypropylene structures, is made of high quality stainless steel by pressing. Knives made of high-alloy steel are installed in the fixture. Convenient handles are provided for working with hand tools.

Manual scrapers are made double-sided, for two different pipe diameters. This makes the device versatile and cheaper in cost. Spare knives come with every hand tool. In order to remove the outer layer of aluminum, you can use a clutch with special knives inside. It is put on the end of the pipe section, turns smoothly. The cut is even and smooth.

Manual strippers for polypropylene pipes

The manual stripping process to remove the outer layer takes only a few seconds.

To remove the reinforcement in the middle layer, a trimmer is used. The blades of this tool are located on the inner end. End cleaning for polypropylene pipes occurs as follows: the device is put on the pipe, three or four turns are made, which will free the material from the foil. After that, you can start welding with the machine.

The drill cleaning tool is available for only one size of reinforced pipes. But thanks to the mechanical processing of pipes, the volume of work performed and productivity increase. Drill attachments allow you to remove both the inner and outer foil layer. They are located in place of the bit and are selected in accordance with the type of coating of the reinforced layer.

It is necessary to carefully control the process of work so as not to damage the product itself.

Stripping for polypropylene pipes: methods and tools

Metal in household communications is gradually replacing various materials from polymers. The properties of polypropylene are especially attractive to the consumer, allowing it to be used for all household communications.

Polypropylene is resistant to corrosion and deposits, does not change properties under the influence of aggressive chemicals. Water transported through systems made of this material does not lose its properties. The large throughput is also important, due to the completely smooth inner surface.

Types of reinforcement

Non-reinforced polypropylene is characterized by low thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance. Over time, it changes shape. This property is called fluidity, which requires the installation of fasteners every 50 cm of the pipeline.

Fluidity is especially pronounced at elevated temperatures of the internal environment. The main purpose of reinforcement is to reduce this quality. After reinforcement, the polypropylene material becomes more rigid, sags less when laid in a horizontal position, which makes the system more stable.

The aluminum tape reduces the coefficient of linear expansion to a level that is comparable to that of metal products. In addition, aluminum contributes to a decrease in oxygen conductivity. Even better quality when reinforced with fiberglass. This material makes installation easier than aluminum tape as there is no need for stripping prior to soldering. It is also important that products with fiberglass are cheaper than products with aluminum tape.

For reinforcement, solid or perforated aluminum foil can be used. It can be located near the outer shell or in the middle of the wall. The solid foil is bonded to the polypropylene with hot melt adhesive. The use of low-quality raw materials in the production entails delamination during operation.

A similar phenomenon is impossible if perforated aluminum is used for reinforcement. Holes in the foil make it possible to create a monolithic connection between plastic and aluminum without using glue.

When choosing polypropylene products, it should be borne in mind that some manufacturers, in order to reduce costs, use low-quality raw materials and make pipes have too thin walls. This entails delamination and instability to internal pressure. By external signs, it is quite difficult to distinguish a high-quality product from a low-quality one. You need to purchase material with the thickest walls (that is, one with a heavier running meter).

Recently, polypropylene pipes reinforced with fiberglass have appeared on the market. Sometimes they are called fiberglass. If an aluminum-reinforced product, in fact, consists of five layers, then the use of fiberglass makes it possible to obtain a material with a monolithic structure, since the middle layer is the same polypropylene, but mixed with fiberglass. All three layers are not glued, but welded, which completely eliminates delamination.

However, fiberglass-reinforced products still have one drawback - their linear expansion is 6% greater than when using aluminum. Why do we need stripping for polypropylene pipes before soldering. Some reinforced products must be stripped before soldering to remove the outer layer of polypropylene and aluminum foil, which prevents a strong connection with the fitting.

Stripping reinforced polypropylene pipes is always required when aluminum is used for reinforcement, and regardless of where the foil is located. The only difference is the tool used. If aluminum is located in the middle of the wall, a trimmer is used. Fiberglass reinforced material does not require stripping, since it is all made of polypropylene.

Stripping tool

The cleaning tool for polypropylene pipes makes it possible to work with products with a diameter of 16 to 110 mm.

For diameters up to 63 mm, double-sided couplings are produced, which allows you to clean the ends with two different diameters if the aluminum layer is located at the outer surface. The knives of this tool are made of non-blunt steel.

If the foil is located in the middle of the wall, a polypropylene pipe trimmer is required, equipped with adjustable knives, which makes it possible to adjust the tool to any diameter. Just like the coupling, the trimmer has a double-sided design (for two different diameters).

Facing polypropylene pipes is cutting the foil from the end to the welding depth.

Why do we need stripping for polypropylene pipes?

If this procedure is carried out incorrectly, aluminum will interfere with creating a reliable connection between the elements of the system, that is, the weld will not be of sufficient quality. During the operation of the system, water will interact with aluminum, which can lead to leakage and rust formation in heating appliances.

Another way to solve the problem of "how to strip a polypropylene pipe" is a nozzle on a drill (shaver). This method is used for a large amount of work to strip the outer layer of polypropylene and remove the reinforcing aluminum layer, if it is located at the outer surface. The body of the shaver is made of aluminum, the knives are made of tool steel.

Thanks to the shaver, stripping for polypropylene pipes is automated, facilitating and speeding up installation with a large amount of work.

Due to the operational parameters, aesthetic appearance and ease of assembly, polypropylene pipes are often used in the installation of engineering communications. Thanks to the reinforcement technology, the reliability and durability of the pipes increase while maintaining all the technological characteristics of polypropylene, the pipes are not only comparable in their qualities to metal pipes, but also surpass them .

However, for long-term and reliable operation of the piping system, proper processing is necessary, cleaning the ends when connecting.

The reinforced pipe is a product with three layers: two polypropylene and one reinforcing. Structural reinforcing shell ensures strength retention in case of sudden temperature changes.

Such an indicator as the coefficient of thermal elongation is 6% higher for pipes with aluminum reinforcement, which increases the durability and reliability of the pipeline in which reinforced pipes are used.

The presence of an aluminum layer in the polymer pipe allows you to maintain high temperatures and prevents breakage of communications in the system. Tempera tour jumps are compensated due to the flexibility of the reinforcing base. Reinforcement is performed in two ways:

1. With fiberglass.
2. With aluminum foil.

Reinforced products are produced both with a solid sheet of aluminum foil and in the form of a mesh with perforations. The viscous polymer flows through the aluminum holes and creates a strong bond with the protective layer, increasing the reliability of tubular products even at elevated high temperature loads.

Why is cleaning required?

If fiberglass reinforcement does not require additional cleaning of the ends of the pipes, then when installing with aluminum, it must be removed and cleaned.

During installation, molten aluminum does not provide a hermetic connection with propylene, and it is required to exclude metal contact with water at the junctions of pipes and fittings, and to avoid corrosive processes.

Attention! In the process of stripping, the oxidized layer and various kinds of pollution are removed from the surface of polypropylene pipes. Thus, the edge of the pipeline is prepared for a reliable welding joint.

Cleaning methods and technology

Starting the installation of reinforced pipes, you must first select a stripping tool. It can be both manual and mechanical devices.