In the field of pipeline construction materials, building drainage pipes, as a core component of drainage systems, directly determine the reliability of these systems. This is especially true in high-pressure transmission scenarios, where higher demands are placed on the pipes' compressive strength, sealing performance, and durability. Traditional building drainage pipes, limited by their material properties, struggle to meet the demands of high-pressure conditions. New composite materials and metal pipes, through structural innovation and material upgrades, are gradually becoming the mainstream choice for high-pressure drainage applications.
Cast iron pipes, as the primary pipe material in early drainage systems, possess excellent compressive strength due to their flake-like graphite crystal structure. In high-pressure transmission scenarios, cast iron pipes, through optimized socket design and the use of rubber ring sealing technology, effectively solve leakage problems under high-pressure conditions. Their compressive strength far exceeds that of conventional building drainage pipes, enabling them to withstand the continuous impact of high-pressure water flow. They also exhibit strong corrosion resistance, making them suitable for projects with high pipe life requirements. Although cast iron pipes have disadvantages such as heavy weight and higher construction difficulty, their stability and reliability still hold an important position in high-pressure drainage scenarios.
Steel pipes, with their high strength and good ductility, demonstrate unique advantages in high-pressure drainage systems. Seamless steel pipes are manufactured through hot rolling or cold drawing processes, resulting in uniform pipe walls that can withstand extremely high pressures, making them suitable for extreme high-pressure transportation scenarios. While welded steel pipes are less expensive, optimized welding processes are needed to reduce stress concentration and ensure structural integrity under high pressure. Steel pipes also exhibit superior high-temperature resistance compared to other pipe materials, meeting the requirements for high-temperature wastewater discharge. However, steel pipes have poor corrosion resistance, necessitating the use of internal anti-corrosion coatings or stainless steel materials to extend their service life, which increases project costs to some extent.
Among plastic pipes, HDPE pipes, due to the molecular structure of high-density polyethylene, are widely used in high-pressure drainage applications. These pipes are joined via hot-melt or electrofusion, resulting in joint strength higher than the pipe body itself, effectively preventing leakage under high-pressure conditions. HDPE pipes possess excellent toughness, capable of withstanding deformation caused by foundation settlement or external impacts, and exhibit strong chemical corrosion resistance, making them suitable for transporting wastewater containing corrosive substances. In high-pressure transportation scenarios, HDPE pipes, by increasing wall thickness or adopting reinforced structures, further enhance their compressive strength, making them one of the preferred materials for municipal high-pressure building drainage pipe networks.
PVC-U pipes, as a traditional building drainage pipe material, can also meet some high-pressure transportation requirements through material improvements and structural optimization. Made from sanitary-grade polyvinyl chloride resin with added stabilizers and lubricants, and manufactured through extrusion molding, they offer advantages such as light weight, corrosion resistance, and low flow resistance. In high-pressure scenarios, PVC-U pipes improve ring stiffness and compressive strength by increasing pipe diameter or adopting a double-wall corrugated structure. However, PVC-U pipes have poor high-temperature resistance; long-term transportation of high-temperature wastewater may lead to pipe deformation, making them more suitable for low-temperature, high-pressure drainage scenarios.
Spiral-wound building drainage pipes, as a new type of composite pipe, have achieved breakthroughs in high-pressure transportation performance through collaborative innovation in materials, structure, and processes. The pipes are constructed with stainless steel or nickel-chromium alloy steel as the core supporting material, with an outer high-strength mesh forming a protective structure, combining high strength and high toughness. Under high-pressure conditions, spiral-wound building drainage pipes can withstand linear pressure and soil loads, and their surface undergoes acid pickling and passivation treatment, resulting in excellent resistance to acid and alkali corrosion and a service life of decades. Their unique spiral channel design improves drainage efficiency and is suitable for complex scenarios such as municipal high-pressure building drainage pipe networks and soft soil subgrade treatment.
Flexible composite high-pressure transmission pipes, as a derivative technology of the oil and gas industry, are increasingly being applied to the field of high-pressure drainage in buildings. The pipes consist of an inner lining, a reinforcing layer, and an outer protective layer, achieving a balance between high-pressure load-bearing capacity and corrosion resistance through multi-layer composite technology. Flexible composite pipes use fiber cross-winding or steel cord pre-impregnation processes to enhance pipe strength, enabling them to withstand the impact of high-pressure water flow. The flexible pipe body is adaptable to geological faults or loess subsidence and other hazardous environments, reducing the risk of pipeline damage. Their construction convenience is also superior to traditional pipes, with the use of internal expansion full-bore joint technology shortening the laying cycle.
The application of building drainage pipes in high-pressure transmission scenarios requires comprehensive consideration of the pipe material's pressure resistance, sealing performance, corrosion resistance, and ease of construction. Cast iron pipes, steel pipes, HDPE pipes, PVC-U pipes, spiral-wound building drainage pipes, and flexible composite pipes, through material innovation and structural optimization, can all meet the needs of various high-pressure operating conditions. In the future, with advancements in materials science and construction technology, building drainage pipes will develop towards higher strength, greater corrosion resistance, and easier construction, providing more reliable solutions for high-pressure drainage systems.
