Buteline Polybutene-1 Technical Information

Polybutene-1 (PB-1)

Polybutene-1 was developed over 30 years ago specifically for use as a hot and cold water plumbing pipe material. PB-1 resins are flexible, linear polyolefins produced from 1-butene as homopolymers and as copolymers with ethylene. Polybutene-1 is a proven solution for the conveyance of clean healthy drinking water.

The most important commercial application for Polybutene-1 (PB-1) is therefore in plumbing pipe for residential and commercial use. With superior temperature and thermal capabilities compared to other materials, there is no need for lagging – it endures and continues to perform both in low and high temperature applications. The flexibility of Polybutene-1 pipe assists installers and eliminates water hammer noise. Polybutene-1 is also environmentally friendly as it is 100% recyclable.

Buteline produces lengths and coils of Polybutene-1 pipe in a variety of sizes, ranging from 15mm to 28mm for the NZ market.

Key Advantages of Polybutene-1

As a material, Polybutene-1 (PB-1) is technically preferred for the manufacture of piping for reticulating hot and cold potable water systems, as it has many advantages over traditional and competitive materials. 

The important advantages of PB-1 are:

• Excellent resistance to creep
• Extremely high strength (high yield strength, high impact strength, high tear strength, high puncture resistance)
• Exceptional resistance to environmental stress cracking
• No corrosion or scale build-up
• Low noise transmission
• Pigmented against algae formation
• Low thermal conductivity
• Withstands many freeze/thaw cycles
• Larger pipe internal diameter resulting in better pipe hydraulics
• Low pipe weight and very flexible (low flexural modulus)

 Buteline Polybutene-1 Plumbing System