SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCTS

MADE OF PE, PP, PVDF, ECTFE, FEP, PFA

Welding work in tank

We produce round bars, welding rods and plastic sheets on our state-of-the-art production systems. AGRU's comprehensive product portfolio, modern warehouse and capable logistics offer fast, technical solutions for any application globally.

Semi-finished products made of thermoplastics are an excellent and durable solution for modern, premium apparatus and tank construction, and manufacturing of wear-resistant products. In the chemical and heavy industries, and in plant construction, a variety of requirements exist for semi-finished products in terms of acid and lye resistance, temperature changes and low static charge in areas with a risk of explosion (ATEX).

This explains why plastic sheets, welding rods and round bars made of materials such as PE, PP, PVDF, ECTFE, FEP and PFA have been successfully used for years in this segment in particular.

AGRU's latest development for apparatus and tank construction is sheets and welding rods made of PE 100-RC, which is characterized by excellent stress crack resilience.

Our manufacturing methods include a variety of proven joining technologies such as extrusion and hot gas welding, as well as butt welding.

AGRU raw materials pyramid

AGRU material pyramid (HDPE, PP, PFA, FEP, ECTFE, PVDF)

The respective industrial application determines which material provides the optimal cost-effectiveness and operational reliability. AGRU experts will help you select the best plastics for your application. AGRU SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCTS made of PFA and FEP are resistant to even the most aggressive media, meaning that almost every corrosion problem can be solved.

This pyramid shows the standard materials to ultra-high-performance materials which we process into pipes, fittings, sheets, geomembranes, welding rods, semi-finished and concrete protection products.

Click on the keywords for detailed information:

Polyethylene - PE

Semi-finished products made of polyethylene (PE 100 and PE 100-RC) are characterized by high toughness and very good chemical resistance, and can be used from -40 °C to +60 °C.
Other characteristics of semi-finished products made of PE 100 and PE 100-RC include the following:

  • good resistance to wear
  • very good electrical insulation
  • high vibration damping

For decades now, semi-finished products made of PE 100 and PE 100-RC black have proven to be reliable when used outdoors. The addition of special carbon black types (approx. 2 %) ensures light and weather resistance. Semi-finished products made of PE 100 and PE 100-RC black are unaffected by natural UV radiation.

Electrically conductive polyethylene (HDPE-el ESD) is a material that conducts electrical charges, because conductive particles (carbon black) have been added to it. Semi-finished products made of this special material have integrated stabilisers that counteract the effects of natural UV light and are therefore also suitable for outdoor applications. Due to their special electrical properties, these semi-finished products are particularly well suited to transporting highly flammable media or dusts. HDPE-el ESD can also be used in areas where sparking from electrostatic charging needs to be prevented due to explosion protection requirements.

To comply with purity requirements, AGRU offers sheets made of natural HDPE as well.

Polypropylene - PP

Polypropylene (PP) is a semi crystalline thermoplastic similar to HDPE, but with higher stiffness, strength, and hardness levels.
It is also characterised by a very good chemical resistance. Polypropylene can be used in temperatures of up to 95 °C. However, below freezing point PP is very sensitive to impact (use at temperatures below - 5 °C should be avoided). Semi-finished products made of PP are also characterized by the following:

  • a low density of 0.91 g/cm3
  • relatively high surface hardness
  • electrical insulation properties
  • high creep strength

PP is the ideal material for use in pickling plants, the chemical industry, and also for extremely aggressive waste water, as chemicals are used at high temperatures in these areas. The AGRU product range includes various PP polymer types:

  • PP homopolymer (PP-H), which is made up exclusively of propylene molecules.
  • PP random copolymers (PP-R), a polypropylene in which statistically distributed ethylene monomers are integrated into the molecular chain.
  • PP copolymer (PP-C, PP-B), a polypropylene block copolymer in which ethylene monomers in block form are integrated into the molecular chain.

All three propylene types are thermally stable, perfectly compatible, and can be easily welded by all standard welding procedures as per DVS 2207. Semi-finished products made of grey polypropylene are not UV-stabilised and therefore need to be protected accordingly.

Low-flammability polypropylene (PPs) is a PP homopolymer, which is equipped with a flame retardant. Consequently, PPs can be classified as a material with higher flame resistance according to DIN 4102 and UL94. Low-flammability and electrically conductive (PPs-el ESD) polypropylene is made of PP copolymer and is equipped with both flame-resistant and electrically conductive / anti-static properties. The surface resistance is ≤106 Ohm, which means that electrostatic charging is prevented. Semifinished products made of polypropylene natural and white (made of PP-H) complete our extensive range of PP semi-finished products.

PVDF

AGRU PVDF is a highly crystalline non-reinforced plastic that combines good mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties with excellent chemical resistance. In addition, it possesses good radiation resistance, which makes it ideal for high-end applications in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, life science, and photovoltaic industry.

PVDF can be processed without additives, which gives it excellent leaching behaviour. PVDF is manufactured under controlled purity conditions using carefully selected raw materials. Areas of application for these products include pipeline systems, storage and transportation tanks, and apparatuses requiring high media purity and leaching behaviour standards.

PVDF can be equipped with electrically conductive particles especially for the electrical industry and explosion-proof areas. The conductive PVDF-el ESD (electrically conductive or electrostatic discharge) can be manufactured in sheets, rods, pipes, and welding rods and has a lower surface resistance, which in turn prevents electrostatic charging.

PVDF Flex is an excellent alternative to well-known, conventional fluoropolymers. When it comes to processing, important rationalisation effects can be achieved through increased flexibility, especially in the case of bonded to steel linings, but also in the case of confined spaces or small radii.

ECTFE

ECTFE possesses a unique combination of properties that are the result of its chemical structure, which consists of a copolymer with ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene arranged alternately. ECTFE demonstrates excellent resistance to the corrosive influence of heat, strong radiation, and weathering. The material has high impact resistance and shows almost no property changes in a wide temperature range, making it particularly well-suited for demanding industrial applications. Furthermore ECTFE is known for its good permeation barrier for many chemicals. Its excellent welding properties and thermoplastic formability also make simple and cost-saving processing possible, both in the workshop and on-site. Compared to PVDF, ECTFE has a better chemical resistance, especially when exposed to lyes.

FEP

FEP, which is a fully fluorinated plastic, offers outstanding corrosion resistance. It performs reliably over the enormous range of temperatures between -190 °C and +205 °C, and can therefore be used in numerous industrial applications. Flexibility, thermoformability and optimum welding properties mean AGRU FEP products can be manufactured reliably at low costs.

PFA

PFA is the highest grade plastic in the AGRU portfolio. It is suitable for an extremely broad spectrum of applications, thanks to its resistance to almost any medium and its temperature range of -190 °C to +260 °C. This means it can be offered as a solution even for extreme chemicals at high temperatures. The products made of PFA are also available in HP (High Purity) quality. The HP quality means it can be used for applications in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and food industries that require high purity levels.

AGRU liner pipes

The liner pipe system

An FRP-reinforced liner pipe consists of the inner liner pipe, the outer FRP-reinforcement and the interface in between, where the bonded connection between the materials is established. FRP reinforced liner pipes have an equal constructive setup of the FRP-duallaminates used to build tanks, scrubbers, columns, reactors and other equipment.

The liner pipe serves for the protection against chemical attack and permeation, the outer FRP reinforcement is responsible for the mechanical strength and bears all loads. Typical wall thicknesses for liner pipes made of melt-extruded fluoroplastics are between 2.3 mm and 5 mm (depends on the material and the diameter). This is in contrast to the thermoplastic pressure pipes, which usually have greater wall thicknesses. While for pressure pipes used without reinforcement, the opperation pressure is defined by the polymer itself, the pressure rating of the liner pipes is given by the FRP reinforcement.

Advantages of AGRU FRP liner pipe system

Comprehensive product portfolio and extensive stock-keeping of different materials and components

Everything from one source

  • PVDF HV-Liner pipes are available in diameter between OD 20 mm – 400 mm
  • Different fittings (bends, tees, reducers) can be produced with the unique HV-Liner surface
  • To minimize the installation costs, fabric backed ECTFE, FEP and PFA pipes are available in 5 m and 1 m lengths (tank inlets, nozzles and pipes)

Find more information about our AGRU liner pipes made from PVDF, ECTFE, FEP and PFA here.

Structure of a Liner pipe system agru
Structure of a Liner pipe system

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