When new water and wastewater systems, industrial process piping or aquaculture facilities are being built, material selection is one of the most important decisions in the project.
Traditionally, materials such as concrete, steel and acid-resistant stainless steel have dominated many types of infrastructure. At the same time, we are seeing thermoplastics – especially polyethylene (PE) – being used in more and more projects. Why is that?
Thermoplastics are a group of plastic materials that can be heated, shaped and welded together without losing their properties.
In infrastructure projects, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are particularly widely used.
These materials are characterised by:
high corrosion resistance
long service life
flexibility
low weight
the possibility of fully welded constructions
These properties make thermoplastics well suited for environments where materials are exposed to moisture, chemicals or mechanical stress.
What are the advantages of thermoplastics?
One of the biggest advantages of thermoplastics is that the material does not corrode. Over time, metals can be broken down by:
salt water
chemicals
oxygen
biological activity
This can lead to rust, weakened structures and the need for maintenance or replacement.
Thermoplastics are not affected by corrosion in the same way, and can therefore have a very long service life in demanding environments, such as at sea or in water and wastewater systems.
Compared with concrete and steel, plastic materials are significantly lighter. This provides several practical advantages:
easier transport
easier handling on site
faster installation
At the same time, the material is flexible and can withstand ground movements without cracking. This can be an advantage in areas with settlement or frost movement.
Thermoplastic pipes can be welded together so that the joints are completely tight. When welding is carried out correctly, the pipe and joint effectively become one continuous material. This reduces the risk of leaks compared with solutions using mechanical joints or gaskets. For water and wastewater systems, this is an important advantage.
Many thermoplastic materials can also be recycled and used again. PE and PP can be shredded, remelted and formed into new products, making it possible to make better use of resources over time.
Today, thermoplastics are used in a wide range of projects, including:
Water and wastewater
Pipelines, manholes, pumping stations and treatment plants.
Read more: PE water manholes
Aquaculture facilities
Marine structures, pipe systems and water handling.
Read more: Land-based aquaculture facilities
Industry and process plants
Piping systems for transporting liquids and chemicals.
Read more: Pipe systems
Infrastructure projects
Special structures and prefabricated solutions.
Although thermoplastics have many advantages, this does not mean that materials such as concrete and steel are disappearing. Different materials have different strengths:
Concrete is often used in structures that require high rigidity and load-bearing capacity, such as foundations and tunnels.
Steel and acid-resistant stainless steel are often used in structures exposed to high temperatures or very high mechanical loads.
In many projects, material selection is therefore about finding the right solution for the specific application. A combination of materials may also be relevant – for example, we have good experience with upgrading concrete water reservoirs using PE lining.
Read more: Bluegreen lines water reservoirs with PE
When projects are planned today, many factors are assessed at the same time:
service life
installation costs
operation and maintenance
environmental impact
functional requirements
Thermoplastics have proven to be a highly competitive material in many types of facilities – especially where corrosion, leaks and service life are important factors.
That is why we are also seeing plastic materials being used in more and more projects within infrastructure, industry and aquaculture.
At Bluegreen, we work every day with the design, production and installation of complex thermoplastic structures.
Through projects within aquaculture, water and wastewater, as well as industry and process plants, we have built solid expertise in how the material can be used efficiently in demanding environments.
