Solvay : Radel® PPSU enables CiXi Zhenpeng to introduce the industry’s first all-plastic stop valve...

Alpharetta, Ga., July 10, 2017 - Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty polymers, announced today that its high-performing Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) polymer enabled China-based CiXi Zhenpeng Plumbing Fittings Company to replace traditional brass in a new line of all-plastic valves targeting pressurized hot water systems used in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) applications. Among Zhenpeng's new products is the industry's first all-PPSU stop valve to meet standards ASME A112.18.1-2012 and CSA B125.1-12, as tested by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

'Because stringent global regulations discourage the use of brass in pipe fittings for drinking water and HVAC systems, leading-edge innovators like CiXi Zhenpeng have increasingly sought to leverage Solvay's 30 years of experience in specialty polymer technology for this market,'said Philippe-Jacques Leng, Global Construction Market Manager for Solvay's Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit. 'Zhenpeng's innovative all-PPSU stop valve did not simply reduce the presence of heavy metals in the part, it eliminated them entirely to offer system integrators a safer and more durable alternative for their customers.'

In addition to enabling Zhenpeng's all-PPSU stop valve, Solvay's high-performance polymer enabled a patented one-piece ball valve and valve rod design, a half-ball valve, and L-type and T-type valves. Radel® PPSU enables Zhenpeng's new products to eliminate corrosion and deliver reliable, long-lasting performance over the lifetime of today's HVAC systems. Zhenpeng's all-plastic valves and fittings are available for the U.S. market, and will be available in Europe in the near future.

Solvay's Radel® PPSU offers high fatigue resistance, strong chemical resistance and high impact strength, as well as the highest long-term hydrostatic strength (LTHS) of any sulfone polymer, making it well-suited for fittings used in multilayer piping systems that can operate under high pressure (up to 10 bar) and temperatures up to 95°C (203°F) for up to 50 years.

Solvay also offers Acudel® modified PPSU as a cost-effective alternative for plumbing applications with less demanding pressure and temperature requirements.

Solvay offers the industry's broadest selection of high-performance polymers for metal substitution applications in water handling systems. In addition to these two materials, its portfolio also includes Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA), Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA), Ryton® polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Omnix® high-performance polyamide (HPPA). Complementing these amorphous and semi-crystalline products, Solvay has various sulfone polymers that are suitable for hot water plumbing applications, including Udel® polysulfone (PSU) and Veradel® polyethersulfone (PESU). Solvay further offers Solef® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which has a proven fit in piping systems for ultrapure water, hot water and concentrated acids.

® Registered trademarks of Solvay