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What is HDPE

As a top manufacturer of high-quality HDPE piping in North America, we deliver dependable, long-lasting, and cost-efficient pipe solutions tailored to diverse industry needs.

What is HDPE?

WL Plastics manufacturers high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to meet a variety of industry standards (see WL116) under strict quality control to meet customer needs.  HDPE pipe is the ideal choice for oil & gas gathering, potable water, wastewater, mining & industrial systems, power & communications, and natural gas distribution applications. HDPE pipe’s flexibility, durability, chemical and corrosion resistance, and other beneficial properties make it a long-term, cost-effective solution for all your piping needs.

With ten state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the United States and ownership by a global leader in petrochemical production, INEOS, WL Plastics has the manufacturing capacity and a continuous resin supply to produce more than ___ million pounds of HDPE pipe per year and to fulfill customer orders quickly and efficiently.  WL Plastics high-volume production allows it to manufacture pipe at the lowest possible cost for its customers while maintaining the highest quality standards. 

Physical Properties of HDPE

WL Plastics utilizes PE4710 resin mixed with a carbon black masterbatch to manufacture its HDPE pipe.  This HDPE compound has an ASTM D3350 cell classification of 445574C.  The 2% to 3% well-dispersed carbon black content in WL Plastics HDPE pipe makes it indefinitely resistant to UV degradation. See WL106 for more information on PE4710 compound used to make HDPE pipe.

Benefits of HDPE

HDPE pipe offers several unique benefits over other pipe types. HDPE pipe is increasingly specified for piping projects because of its versatility and durability.  WL Plastics HDPE pipe is a proven performer across a wide range of applications. HDPE pipe is the preferred pipe material for trenchless installation methods such as sliplining, compressed-fit lining, pipe bursting, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD).  

Beneficial characteristics of HDPE pipe

Leak-Proof System with Heat Fusion

HDPE pipe is joined by heat fusion per ASTM F2620. Properly fused joints by qualified technicians are leak-free and as strong as extruded pipe (see WL101 for more on heat fusion). Bell and spigot or mechanical fitting joints are potential leak points. Heat-fused joints are fully restrained, eliminating thrust blocks required for bell and spigot piping. Unlike bell and spigot pipe, which requires workers in trenches, HDPE pipe can be safely fused outside trenches before installation.

Ductile, Durable, and Reliable

HDPE pipe is very ductile; it can be stretched and squeezed without breaking and then regain its original shape.  WL Plastics HDPE pipe is tough, strong, and resilient.  It can withstand temperature extremes, seismic conditions, vibrations, water hammer pressure surges, extreme burial depths, and UV exposure.  

Lightweight, Flexible and Cost Effective

HDPE pipe has a lighter unit weight than most metallic piping materials, which can result in significant savings in shipping, handling, and installation.  HDPE pipe coils (available in IPS 6 and smaller) eliminate joining costs for longer projects.  HDPE pipe is flexible and can bend to follow curves, contours, and easements, reducing the need for directional fittings and lowering installation costs. The allowable minimum bending radius of HDPE pipe is a function of pipe DR and OD and is set to prevent kinking (see WL113).  

Cost Effective Installation

Installation costs can be reduced by utilizing trenchless methods with HDPE pipe that minimize surface disruption and require less restoration. Horizontal Direction Drilling (HDD) can place HDPE pipe below rivers, lakes, ponds, roadways, railroads, and environmentally sensitive areas.  Slip-lining and pipe bursting can be used to rehabilitate deteriorated pipelines with new, leak-free HDPE pipe.  Pipe bursting allows existing lines to be up-sized to increase capacity without removing the old pipeline.

Resistant to Corrosion and Chemicals

Because HDPE pipe is a plastic, it will not corrode.  HDPE is also resistant to a wide variety of chemicals including strong acids and bases.  The Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI) Technical Report 19 (TR-19) lists the chemical resistance of polyethylene and other plastic piping materials.  HDPE does not support biological growth or scale build-up.  In lesser piping materials, susceptibility to corrosion and deterioration from environmental conditions are principal factors in increased maintenance, reduced performance, and premature failure.

Cost Savings

HDPE pipe offers substantial cost savings compared to alternative materials like concrete, steel, ductile iron, and PVC. WL Plastics HDPE pipe provides toughness, reliability, and durability for extended performance, avoiding high costs from premature replacement or rehabilitation. Over time, heat-fused, leak-free WL Plastics HDPE systems significantly reduce operating costs by safely delivering gases, water, or other fluids without leakage from corrosion, gasketed joints, or fittings. Correctly fused joints do not leak. Don’t accept joint leakage, use WL Plastics HDPE pipe.

Superior Flow Characteristics

HDPE has a smooth inner surface and a low flow resistance compared to other piping materials.  The table below shows flow coefficients for polyethylene pipe and other piping materials. The low resistance to flow of HDPE pipe can reduce pumping and operating costs. Water and wastewater piping materials such as ductile iron lose flow capacity over time due to pitting, corrosion, and scale and biological film build-up. WL Plastics HDPE pipe retains its flow capacity over the life of the system and does not need to be oversized to compensate for deteriorating flow capacity.

Safe For Water Distribution

WL Plastics Polyethylene pipe contains no additives or compounds that can leach from the pipe to compromise water quality.  WL Plastics maintains NSF-61 and NSF-14 certifications for potable water pipe.  All PE4710 resins utilized by WL Plastics have a chlorine resistance categorization level of CC3.

Applications for HDPE Piping

Polyethylene pipe is the most common pipe material in the distribution of natural gas because of its leak-free joining system, strength, flexibility, and low installation cost compared to other materials such as steel.  HDPE pipe is used extensively for gas and oil gathering and the transport of produced water.  Oil and gas gathering HDPE pipe is typically made to ASTM F2619 specifications.  See WL102 for IPS sizes available for oil and gas gathering.

HDPE Pipe & Tubing Sizes

WL Plastics manufactures HDPE pipe and tubing to four different sizing systems: Iron Pipe Sizes (IPS) from ¾ to 54, Ductile Iron Pipe Sizes (DIPS) from 4 to 24, Copper Tube Sizes (CTS) from ½ to 2, and Standard Inside Diameter Ratio (SIDR) tubing sizes ½ to 2.  A variety of DR’s, SIDR’s, and wall thicknesses are available in each sizing system.  IPS, CTS, and DIPS sizes are made to a controlled outside diameter.  As the DR changes for a given IPS, CTS, or DIPS size, the inside diameter changes while the OD remains constant.  SIDR pipe is made to a controlled inside diameter.   As the SIDR changes for a given SIDR size, the outside inside diameter changes while the inside diameter remains the same.   

The following resources are helpful when selecting the right pipe size for a specific application:

  • WL 102 is the  IPS (Iron Pipe Size) chart for WL Plastics HDPE (PE4710) pipe.  It covers IPS sizes ¾ to 54 in a variety of DR’s and lists water pressure ratings and pipe dimensions and unit weights.  
  • WL 103 is a brochure for WL Plastics HDPE (PE4710) pipe manufactured with a gray interior called CamcoreTM.  Camcore pipe can be used for sewer, wastewater, reclaimed, recycled, storm, bypass and landfill applications where internal inspections of the line are required.  The gray interior reflects light better than a black interior.  Camcore is available in IPS sizes 4 to 18 (see WL102) and DIPS sizes 4 to 16 (see WL104).
  • WL 104 is the DIPS (also known as DIOD, Ductile Iron Outside Diameter) size chart for WL Plastics HDPE (PE4710) pipe.  It covers DIPS  sizes 4 to 36 in a variety of DR’s and lists water pressure ratings (Pressure Classes), pipe dimensions and unit weights.    
  • WL 129 is WL Plastics Gas Distribution pipe brochure.  It provides IPS and CTS (Copper Tubing Size) sizes for both MDPE (PE2708) and HDPE (PE4710) gas distribution piping manufactured to  ASTM D2513 specifications.  It also lists gas distribution pressure ratings, pipe dimensions and unit weights.
  • WL 130 lists the HDPE (PE4710) IPS and DIPS sizes that have been certified by FM for fire water lines. It also lists water pressure ratings (Pressure Classes), pipe dimensions and unit weights.
  • WL 134 lists the HDPE (PE4710) IPS, SIDR, and Schedule sizes that are available for Power & Communication conduit. 
  • WL 137 lists the HDPE (PE4710) CTS sizes that are available for water applications. 
  • WL 138 lists the HDPE (PE4710) SIDR sizes that are available for water well and irrigation piping.  SIDR tubing is  predominantly used for irrigation and conduit applications where a consistent ID is required.
  • WL 139 lists the HDPE (PE4710) IPS sizes that are available for geothermal piping. 

What are SDR and DR?

The standard dimensional ratio, or SDR, is the ratio of the average specified outside diameter to the minimum specified wall thickness (ODAvg / tmin) for outside diameter-controlled plastic pipe, the value of which is derived by adding one to the pertinent number selected from the ANSI Preferred Number Series 10. Some of the values are as follows:

Series 10SDR
5.06.0
6.37.3
8.09.0
10.011.0
12.513.5
16.017.0
20.021.0
25.026.0
31.532.5
40.041.0
50.051.0
63.064.0

If the SDR is high, that means the walls of the pipe are thinner at any given diameter. The DR, or dimension ratio, encompasses standard and non-standard dimension ratios.  DR is a term that is interchangeable with SDR. 

Flow Characteristics

Pipe MaterialRange of Surface roughness, ϵ
(feet)		Range of Hazen-Williams "C"Range of Manning's "n"
Polyethylene (HDPE & MDPE), Lifetime0.0000051550.009
Plastics, copper, brass, glass0.000007 - 0.000003 140 - 1600.009- 0.011
Steel, welded and new0.0003 -0.000180 - 1500.012 - 0.013
Steel, welded and rusted0.013 - 0.0005  
Steel, welded, 10-20 yrs old 100 
Iron, Ductile, new 130 - 1400.012 - 0.013
Iron (cast, galvanized, wrought), new & plain0.0008 - 0.00011300.012 - 0.015
Iron (cast), new & concrete lined0.0005 - 0.0002120 - 140 
Iron (Cast), plain, 10-20yrs old (size dependent) 85 - 110 
 Iron (cast), plain, 40yrs old (size dependent)  60 - 80 
Cast/Wrought/Ductile Iron, plain, General Turburculation0.008 - 0.003 0.015 - 0.017
Cast/Wrought/Ductile Iron, plain, Severe Tuberculation & Incrustation0.03 - 0.008  
Wood 0.016 - 0.0006110 - 1400.011 - 0.013
Concrete (depends on formining & finish)0.016 - 0.000180 - 1400.011 - 0.015
Vitrified/Clay Tile Sewer0.01 - 0.0011100.011 - 0.017
Brick & Mortar0.01 - 0.00190 - 1000.012 - 0.017
Corrugated, steel 60 
Corrugated, polyethylene  0.018 - 0.025
Corrugated metal (6" x 1")  0.022 - 0.025
Corrugated metal (3" x 1")  0.027 - 0.028
Corrugated metal (6" x 2")  0.033 - 0.035
Corrugated metal (9" x 2.5")  0.033 - 0.037
Corrugated metal  0.025


Reliable Solutions from WL Plastics

WL Plastics’ HDPE pipes meet industry standards, strict safety regulations, and specific customer needs.

With nine state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the United States, we have the capacity to produce more than 800 million pounds of HDPE piping per year.

Our high-volume production allows us to manufacture these pipes at the lowest possible cost for our customers while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.

Contact Us Today