The most demanded product non-ferrous metal - copper pipes. Produce and use copper pipes, primarily due to the properties of the material which withstands aggressive attack and has a lot of other positive properties. In this article we consider the assortment of manufactured copper tubes, their characteristics and applications.
Where is the use of copper fittings
- Water pipes. In this area, of copper have been used for a long time, which is primarily driven by their resistance to corrosion. Also they are characterized bactericidal properties and chemical inertness. Due to the large range in the field of plumbing copper tubes are relevant for many tasks. Copper is malleable, so do not be afraid if winter freezes the water inside the water supply. Inner tubes smoothness distinguishes them from similar plastic or steel products - this increased bandwidth. Such water pipes capable of withstanding high pressure - up to 230 atmospheres at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, from which steel products simply "breaks";
- Heating systems. Here at once two advantages: brass, resistant to corrosion, extends the life of the system, which, moreover, is perfectly cope with sharp changes in temperature and pressure. In this case, you should pay attention to the correct combination of copper with steel reinforcement. If you use products from other metals, they should be placed in front of the copper. Important communications and thermal insulation of copper tubes, which eliminates heat loss;
- Fuel pipelines. Create a trunk allows the absolute tightness of copper products and its neutral properties;
- Gas pipelines. Easy to implement distribution inside, without the use of welding. Brazing and press-fit to create a robust and tight connection;
- Industry. Pipes made of copper is widely used in different equipment: gas water heaters, and the hydraulic brake systems, capillary tubes and so on.
Features of copper pipes
Key advantages of copper products is the strength, reliability and durability. In addition to her inherent and other advantages:
- An important factor - the versatility of the product. On copper conduits is allowed transport any fluids in all conditions. From the application can be excluded unless the water - of course, the copper pipe solder and set is not difficult, but salt and alkali, contained in tap water, have a negative impact on the condition of the pipes, because of what their life is reduced almost 1.5 times (on average serve 50 years). There is a way out of this situation - before introducing water into the copper line, it first softens. As for the other areas, it is almost no restrictions. Now copper pipes are used for heating organization Fitting "Heated floor" system, conditioning and ventilation systems, and in other places where it is necessary to organize the flow of liquid on certain distance;
- Sheer copper as metal, has excellent properties - it is not subjected to corrosion and rot. And thanks to the plasticity of the material collected line without any problems. Also, copper has antibacterial properties - if you put water in a copper container, it will not blossom, and it will not breed bacteria;
- If we consider the performance, the copper copes with a wide temperature range - from -100 to +250 degrees Celsius. The pipeline will not melt, crack or warp.
If desired, it is possible to identify other positive properties of copper, for example, its decorative effect - but This issue is known to be an individual, and depends on the individual abilities in many ways, collecting pipeline. The water from the copper line will never give a metallic taste. Needless pipe connection of this material does not represent anything complex - rations obtained by simple and fast. However, copper - not an ideal material, so it has certain disadvantages. Most of the serious disadvantages of not name, is more particularly:
- Expensiveness. Copper production is the most expensive on the market of pipeline systems;
- Copper can not coexist with galvanized pipes - if their location is too close, run a process called electrolysis. Of course, this millivolts, but it's enough to eventually line deteriorated, so this neighborhood better to avoid.
Other disadvantages of copper there. On this basis, it can be concluded that this material is perfect for organizing long-lasting heating or plumbing.
What types are copper pipes
If you want to build a copper water supply, selecting the material should build on several parameters: the method of how it is made, the indicator of strength and ductility, overall sizes. Pipe Fittings is now widespread, so will be a useful skill deciphering labels.
As to the question "how much", in the case of the copper fittings price depends on many factors: the technology of production, size, manufacturer, and so on.
The average cost of products:
- For air-conditioning - from 100 rubles per square meter;
- For water - from 215 rubles per tube;
- For heating - from 260 rubles per square meter.
manufacturing processes
Based on GOST Now there are two ways to produce copper tubes: cold rolling and pressing with welding. The performance characteristics of the product depend largely on the technology.
Rental. Technology is as follows: metal blank is deformed by passing between the rotating shafts Pipe machine. Run-do steps - the sleeve is set at 90 degrees to each pitch, allowing processing to obtain a uniform and do not remain on the tube longitudinal risks. "Rolling" fittings allows you to create seamless construction (stronger) with a perfectly precise parameters for the entire length.
Cold deformation as a method for creating activated if necessary water or heating pipe, inside experiencing severe stress during operation. Final processing may involve-heat. It is necessary to ensure that the products remain flexible.
Different pipe has its own characteristics:
- Not annealed - "hard" at a bend resistant to mechanical damage and water hammer (not more than 450 MPa). With such a simple valve collected pipelines;
- Annealed - characterized by high ductility, but this increases their cost.
Pressing. For this method of manufacturing a copper sheet is used - the workpiece in the form of webs is placed on the forming roll pressing equipment. After receiving the necessary forms a connecting seam sealed. At the final stage the pipe is passed through the gauge rollers, allowing to remove and align the profile of the longitudinal deformation.
The degree of plasticity
Depending on the type of pipe have different mechanical properties and field of application. According to indicators such as ductility and strength, the copper fittings are classified into 3 categories:
- Solid rental, consisting of not annealed blanks. Suitable if you need to make water for the house of the copper pipes for supplying high pressure fluid;
- Semi - sbaralansirovannymi characteristics differ by such parameters as strength and elasticity. The product with an outer diameter of 3 mm and 0.8 mm wall thickness differs elongation of not more than 10%. Similar sized soft rental is another indicator - 38%;
- Soft - more flexible designs, supplied in coils. With their help, the engineering network are mounted with radial distribution of inlets to the equipment. If necessary, shaping the medium-sized line, it can be done with his own hands, without resorting to the tube bender.
dimensions
Dimensions of produced copper tubes are diverse. Defined by the inner, outer diameter and wall thickness. Such a material as copper - malleable for processing, are therefore different line shapes and sizes.
The new regulation GOST says that the dimensions should be displayed in a fractional form. The numerator indicates the external diameter, the denominator - wall thickness. Consider the example of tube sizes 15/1:
- The diameter of the outside - 15 mm;
- The inner section - 14 mm;
- Wall Thickness - 1 mm.
Domestic manufacturers produce pipes of varying length and diameter plays a key role. If the cross section of 18 mm, the shape of manufacture - 10 meter bay. As regards more dimensional products, they are produced in the form of segments of a length from 1.5 to 6 meters.
In water supply systems, though less frequently, but is operated valves, which has a rectangular cross section. The production technology is, as a rule - pressing. Dimensions are: diameter - of 30 to 280 mm, wall thickness - from 5 to 30 mm.
Weight at such reinforcement, for example as a copper tube, compared with modern plastic products, above. Take as an example a product is 5 meters long with an external diameter - 30 mm and a wall thickness - 5 mm - its weight is 17.4 kg.
The table shows the various main valves described.
conclusion
Copper fittings are practical and durable, and if properly assemble the system correctly, and to exploit it, it can last for several decades. At the moment, most of the houses on the territory of Europe established copper communications, which is served as a hot and cold water.