Comprehensive Analysis of PPH Pipes vs PPR Pipes: Choosing the Most Suitable Pipe for Your Project

The reliability of industrial piping systems begins with a deep understanding of materials science.

In the fields of industrial and construction piping, polypropylene pipes have become an important substitute for metal pipes due to their excellent performance. Among them, PPH pipes and PPR pipes are two widely used but often confused types of pipes.

For engineering designers and procurement decision-makers, accurately understanding the differences between them is not only related to project costs but also directly affects the long-term operational safety and maintenance cycles of the piping system.

Fundamental Differences Between PPH and PPR Pipes

PPH is composed of a single propylene monomer polymerized, with regularly arranged molecular chains. PPR, on the other hand, is a random copolymer polypropylene, produced by introducing a small amount of ethylene monomer for random copolymerization during the propylene polymerization process.

This fundamental difference in molecular structure leads to significant distinctions in their physical and chemical properties.

The table below clearly compares the key performance indicators of PPH pipes and PPR pipes:

Outstanding Advantages and Application Scenarios of PPH Pipes

As a leader in the field of industrial piping, the excellent chemical corrosion resistance of PPH pipes enables them to maintain stable physical and chemical characteristics in extreme environments.

According to experimental data, PPH pipes have the strongest chemical resistance among all polypropylene pipes and can withstand erosion by acidic and alkaline media with a pH of 1-14.

Another significant advantage of PPH pipes is their excellent temperature resistance. They can maintain stable performance within a temperature range of -20°C to +110°C, with some data indicating that their applicable temperature upper limit can even reach 120°C. This makes PPH pipes an irreplaceable choice in high-temperature process environments.

Furthermore, PPH pipes have the highest pressure resistance (MRS10), meaning that under the same pressure requirements, PPH pipes can be designed with thinner walls, optimizing the cost structure.

Main Application Fields:

• Chemical Industry: Reaction equipment, transport pipelines, waste acid recovery systems

• Environmental Engineering: Industrial wastewater treatment, high-concentration acid and alkali waste liquid transport

• Power Industry: Chemical water treatment systems in power plants

• Food Processing: Conveying pipelines meeting hygiene standards

• Electronics & Semiconductors: High-purity chemical liquid transport

Characteristics and Suitable Environments for PPR Pipes

As a mature Type III polypropylene pipe, the balanced performance combination of PPR pipes has made them dominant in the building water supply and drainage field.

The most prominent feature of PPR pipes is their excellent impact toughness, maintaining a degree of flexibility even in low-temperature environments, a characteristic significantly superior to PPH pipes.

Regarding long-term hydraulic performance, PPR pipes also perform exceptionally well. At an operating temperature of 70°C and an operating pressure of 1.0MPa, the service life of PPR pipes can reach 50 years. This data has been verified through long-term engineering practice, making PPR pipes an ideal choice for building cold and hot water systems.

PPR pipes also have excellent hygienic performance. Their raw material belongs to polyolefins, and the molecules are composed only of carbon and hydrogen elements, fully complying with food hygiene standard requirements. They can be used not only for cold and hot water systems but also for pure drinking water systems.

Main Application Fields:

• Building Water Supply and Drainage: Indoor cold and hot water pipeline networks

• Heating Systems: Radiant floor heating, radiator connection pipes

• Pure Water Transport: Direct drinking water systems, mineral water equipment connection networks

• Central Air Conditioning: Cold and hot water transport pipes

Engineering Selection Guide: How to Make the Right Choice Based on Application Scenarios

When facing specific engineering projects, clarifying usage requirements is the first step in selecting the appropriate pipe material. The following key considerations will help you make a scientific decision:

Medium Characteristics Determine Pipe Selection: For transporting neutral media such as ordinary water and air, PPR pipes are entirely sufficient and economical; whereas for industrial media containing acidic, alkaline, salt, and other corrosive components, PPH pipes are an indispensable safety guarantee.

Temperature and Pressure Parameters are the Dividing Line: When the operating temperature consistently exceeds 70°C, the advantages of PPH pipes begin to emerge; for room temperature or medium-low temperature (below 70°C) application scenarios, PPR pipes are entirely suitable.

In terms of pressure requirements, PPH pipes have the highest pressure resistance, able to meet higher pressure industrial demands.

Balancing Service Life and Maintenance Costs: The 50-year service life of PPR pipes in conventional building environments has been fully verified; whereas in harsh industrial environments, PPH pipes have a longer service life and higher system safety.

Installation Requirements and Overall Cost: Both types of pipes can use thermal fusion connection, a characteristic that ensures the strength of the connection point is greater than that of the pipe itself.

However, from a material price perspective, PPH pipes are typically more expensive than PPR pipes, due to their relatively complex production process and performance that is more focused on high temperature resistance and high strength.