Hi,
ABS is commonly used in Australia and Asia up to DN800 in size. It is manufactured to AS3518 in Australia, Indonesia and Malasia by Pentair ( Formerly Tyco Water & Eurapipe). The material is much tougher than PVC-U, PVC-O and PVC-M. This escially so at low temperatures down to -40C. PVC becomes brittle at 5C and below.
ABS is rated up to 15bar.
It available in bell and spigot to DN800 but is more commonly a solvent welded system. This is not the same as the mthod used for PVC which is basically a cement. The solvent weld mechanism uses ABS/MEK mixture. It is not a gap filler. The female fitting has a slight taper. By softening the mating parts witht he solvent cement when the joint is made the lateral forces ensure a chemical weld. It is such that if you section the joint you cannot see where the two parts weld together.
Common applcations are for sewage treatment, sea water applications, pure water for electronics, desalination plants, coal preparation, mineral processing, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals. Genrally where a pipe product is required for abrasive and corrosive duties it is to be found.
Be aware that the ABS in the USA may be to a different specification. There were some class actions in the plumbing industry some years back.
The difference is in the manufacture of the polymer. Some manufacturers produce the compnenets separately and then blend them physically. AS 3518 requires the ABS to be polymerised in the one process generally in a Pfaudler reactor. Although Monsanto Chemicals did have a process whereby the ABS was manufactured and polymerised in a continuous process.
Now that Pentair have taken over this division of Tyco you may see their product in the USA.
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