Tigre SA, the largest plumbing manufacturer in Brazil, has developed the first complete line of plastic pipe fittings for pressurized, flexible hot water systems in Brazil. The fittings are made of Udel® polysulfone (PSU) from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, a tough, hydrolytically stable material suitable for applications requiring continuous exposure to hot chlorinated water. They were introduced here at the Brasilplast 2009 exhibition May 4-8.
“We needed a heat-resistant plastic with proven performance in pressurized hot water systems as well as a company that understands the unique requirements of the industry,” said Guilherme Lutti, research and development manager at Tigre. “Solvay’s know-how was essential to this development.”
Udel PSU is a tough, rigid, high-strength thermoplastic with a heat deflection temperature of 345° F (174° C). It is suitable for continuous use up to 300° F (149° C) and maintains its properties over a wide temperature range. The material exhibits low creep and excellent dimensional stability in hot water and steam. It is highly resistant to oxidation aging, mineral acids, alkali, and salt solutions and can cost-effectively replace metal in pressurized hot water applications.
The injection molded fittings provide freedom from corrosion and heavy metals. In addition, they comply with the major global health and toxicology requirements for components used in hot, potable water systems, explains Alex Sant’Anna, Solvay Specialty Polymers’ senior account manager.
Tigre will launch the PEX Tigre product line in July. Besides a complete line of PSU fittings, the portfolio includes monolayer and multilayer PEX tubing made of silane crosslinkable polyethylene from sister company Solvay Padanaplast. The multilayer tubing includes an aluminum middle layer which serves as an oxygen barrier to prevent damage to heaters, valves, and other equipment in solar heating and radiant floor systems.
Solvay offers a complete range of high-performance plastics for water handling systems, with a large number of products for fittings, including Udel PSU, Radel® R polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), and Acudel® modified PPSU from Solvay Advanced Polymers, along with Solef® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) from Solvay Solexis. Solvay Padanaplast offers a range of Polidan® crosslinkable PE compounds for PEX pipes and fittings.
About Tigre SA
Tigre SA, headquartered in Joinville, Brazil, is the leading manufacturer of PVC pipes and fittings in Latin America. It is also a leading manufacturer of brushes, through Pincéis Tigre, and of PVC window frames through the Claris brand. The Tigre Group had gross revenues of more than US$1 billion in 2007 and has manufacturing plants in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, the U.S., Ecuador, and Peru.
About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at
www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
SOLVAY is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext:
SOLB.BE - Bloomberg:
SOLB.BB - Reuters:
SOLBt.BR). Details are available at
www.solvay.com.
Press Contact:
Grupo Solvay Mercosul
Comunicação Corporativa
(55) 11 3708-5074/ 5073/ 5217
comunicacao.corporativa@solvay.com
Tigre
CDN – Comunicação Corporativa
Júlio Franco / Edgard Silva / Suzeli Damaceno
(55) 47 9974 4591 / (55) 11 3643 2936 / (55) 11 3643 2775
imprensa@tigre.com /
Edgard@cdn.com.br /
suzeli@cdn.com.br
