PKMN
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Why're pipes not being made of Aluminium?
And traffic signs are. Also, why utensils are not (spoons...)?
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aga
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They are.
Pipes are better in Copper as it has some disinfectant qualities, is pretty much inert to anything people usually chuck down their drain, and is easy
to join by soldering.
Al pipes are used where weight is a problem, and the exact chemistry of the fluids they will transport are known.
Al cutlery already exists (google camping cutlery).
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BromicAcid
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Being neurotoxic doesn't help either. Especially with well water, the pH and composition can vary greatly, unless the aluminum is lined (like a
soft-drink can) then it can be attacked. They could sell aluminum pipes with a lining but then how long would it last and how would you ensure it is
at the joints? Aluminum isn't really cheap either, besides, PEX is really becoming the go-to for piping.
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Bert
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A great deal of pipe used for crop irrigation systems in USA is made of Aluminum- Light weight is required for ease of handling.
Before HDPE tubing became widely available and accepted for use in display fireworks mortar racks, Aluminum irrigation pipe was sometimes re-purposed
for finale racks, I occasionally still see these being used in the Midwestern USA. It was lighter than steel guns & more durable than cardboard
tubes.
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NedsHead
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Quote: Originally posted by Bert  | | A great deal of pipe used for crop irrigation systems in USA is made of Aluminum- Light weight is required for ease of handling.
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The farms I've worked on here in AUS also use aluminium irrigation pipes, 100's of meters can be laid out and snapped together in minutes. The down
side was when the farmhand's would decouple and put it to the side where I couldn't see it from the tractor, every time I squashed one flat $90 would
be takes out of my pay
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violet sin
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I see it all the time as well here in Cali. even saw a few chunks left up in the mountains crumpled... meant to go back and saw that up but no.
finding one that has been damaged isn't too hard if you just need a piece for some improvised equipment. accidents happen all the time, and like
NedsHead says ^^^, grass quickly covers stray pieces and piles.
one a different note, I see aluminum here in the central valley lasts quite a while out in the elements, but on the coast, a different story all
together. pitting and white corrosion are common and seem to happen fairly fast. salt air is a bitch.
most the construction we do near the ocean requires ever so cheap stainless screws or nails for everything from siding to hinge and window hardware.
unless you are fond of rust streaks bleeding out of the paint
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diddi
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we boom spray over this way or flood irrigate. are you in the wine growing area NedsHead
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Texium
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And just imagine if somebody poured NaOH drain cleaner into a drain that led to aluminum piping. If they were unaware of the danger, they'd be in for
quite a nasty surprise...
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NedsHead
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No diddi, I spent a few years working the farms in Gatton QLD and then moved to S.A.
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PHILOU Zrealone
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Aluminium is way too sensitive to alkaline or acidic waters.
It corrodes very fast by picking or when in contact with different metals.
It is used as fast pipe work for domestic houses now in Europa as ALPEX (moderately flexible Aluminium pipe coated Inside with transluscent
polyethylen, and outside with white PVC; there is also an external larger annealed pipe blue or red to protect the pipe against building work shocks,
pressure, and to ensure a little isolation in the case pipe passes into cement or plaster; the color also indicates if it is part of the cold or warm
water circuit).
Water can be as hot as 90°C in those ALPEX pipes.
I have worked with iron-steel galva pipes and with ALPEX...ALPEX cost more since each connection piece is a special alloy with rubber joints... it is
much lighter but it is hard to make 90° angle with it so there is always a curvature to take in account.
[Edited on 25-8-2015 by PHILOU Zrealone]
PH Z (PHILOU Zrealone)
"Physic is all what never works; Chemistry is all what stinks and explodes!"-"Life that deadly disease, sexually transmitted."(W.Allen)
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