PE100 BU
Grade
EN 12201 · GB GB/T 13663 · ISO 4427
BU = blue or blue-striped potable water compound
Pick the blue or blue-striped compound for municipal and building potable-water identification; it needs hygienic approval, and all-blue stock has limited outdoor storage life.
Values for the BU condition
Other PE100 grades and fills
PE100 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at PE100.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PE100-RT | Choose for 40–70 °C industrial hot water, district-heating return lines and mining transport, where long-term hydrostatic strength decays more slowly at elevated temperature. | 21 | 30 | 800 | 58 Shore D |
Natural / uncoloured base resin | Use when you will colour the resin yourself, or for the inner layer of a multilayer pipe and indoor parts; with no carbon black it must not be exposed outdoors long term. | 23 | 32 | 700 | 60 Shore D |
Yellow / orange gas distribution compound | Choose for buried gas distribution to EN 1555 / GB 15558, where the yellow or orange compound must meet stricter low-temperature toughness and rapid-crack-propagation limits; 40 °C max service. | 24 | 32 | 700 | 61 Shore D |
PE100-RC | Pick for point-load and scratch-sensitive installation — horizontal directional drilling, pipe bursting, sand-free backfill — where PENT/FNCT/NPT life far exceeds the standard pipe grade. | 24 | 32 | 750 | 61 Shore D |
BKDefault Black, 2.0–2.5 % carbon black stabilized pipe compound | Use the black compound with 2.0–2.5 % carbon black as the standard for buried and outdoor water, gas and sewer mains; it gives long-term UV and oxidation protection at 24 MPa yield. | 24 | 33 | 700 | 62 Shore D |
BUThis page Blue or blue-striped potable water compound | Pick the blue or blue-striped compound for municipal and building potable-water identification; it needs hygienic approval, and all-blue stock has limited outdoor storage life. | 24 | 33 | 700 | 62 Shore D |
Injection-moulding fittings compound | Use for injection-moulded elbows, tees and electrofusion fittings: the higher MFR fills thick walls, while long-term strength still meets MRS 10. | 25 | 32 | 600 | 63 Shore D |
What is PE100 BU?
PE100 BU is PE100 in the BU grade — pick the blue or blue-striped compound for municipal and building potable-water identification; it needs hygienic approval, and all-blue stock has limited outdoor storage life. PE100 BU has a yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 33 MPa (4.79 ksi) — weaker than 76% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi). PE100 BU has a density of 0.96 g/cm³ (0.0347 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F). BK is the default condition FabDigit quotes; BU is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 95/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 700%, better than 96% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 2.5%, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 60°C (140 °F), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 24 MPa (3.48 ksi), worse than 76% of polymer grades
PE100 BU properties
Typical room-temperature values for PE100 BU; 28 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PE100 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PE100 BU has a density of 0.96 g/cm³ (0.0347 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F).
Mechanical16
PE100 BU has a yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 33 MPa (4.79 ksi) — weaker than 76% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi).
Thermal11
PE100 BU is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °F). It conducts heat at 0.42 W/m·K (0.243 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 160 µm/m·K (88.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PE100 BU is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 24 kV/mm (609.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (95/100), better than 97% of polymer grades. UV resistance is good.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PE100 BU takes about 77 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 90% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PE100 BU's machinability is good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (82/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PE100 BU
Is PE100 easy to machine?
Turning, milling and drilling are all workable with very sharp, high positive-rake tools, high spindle speed, light feed and air blast to clear chips. The stock is soft with large elastic recovery, so tight tolerances are difficult to hold.
Can PE100 be welded?
Butt fusion (EN 12201-3 / GB/T 32434) and electrofusion couplers are the standard joining methods, with joint strength close to the parent material. It cannot be fused to PP or PVC and does not accept solvent cement.
Can PE100 be formed, bent or molded?
Mainly single-screw pipe extrusion at 190-230 C melt temperature, with small diameters coiled. Fittings are injection moulded from high-MFI grades; shrinkage of about 2% calls for adequate hold pressure and uniform wall thickness.
What surface finishes work on PE100?
Surface energy is low (about 31 mN/m), so corona, flame or plasma treatment is needed before marking or bonding. Painting and plating are not used; colour is set by masterbatch.
PE100 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| 1-hexene / 1-butene comonomerSCB in high-MW fraction; tie molecules give SCG resistance | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| carbon blackblack grades only; ISO 4427 dispersion grade ≤3 | 2 – 2.5 | 2.25 |
| antioxidants / stabilizershindered phenol + phosphite; OIT ≥20 min at 200 °C | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| pigment masterbatch (blue/yellow)coloured grades only; replaces carbon black | 0 – 4 | 3 |
| ethylenebimodal MWD; Ziegler-Natta or Cr cascade reactor process | ≥ 96 (balance) | — |
PE100 BU — frequently asked
What is PE100 BU used for?
PE100 BU is typically used for municipal water supply pipe, gas distribution pipe, mining slurry pipe and HDPE fittings. In short: MRS 10 pipe benchmark; thinner wall than PE80; butt- and electrofusion weldable.
What is the yield strength of PE100 BU?
PE100 BU has a typical yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 33 MPa (4.79 ksi) — weaker than 76% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is PE100 BU easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, worse than 55% of polymer grades). Turning, milling and drilling are all workable with very sharp, high positive-rake tools, high spindle speed, light feed and air blast to clear chips. The stock is soft with large elastic recovery, so tight tolerances are difficult to hold.
Can PE100 BU be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Butt fusion (EN 12201-3 / GB/T 32434) and electrofusion couplers are the standard joining methods, with joint strength close to the parent material. It cannot be fused to PP or PVC and does not accept solvent cement.
What surface finishes work on PE100 BU?
Surface energy is low (about 31 mN/m), so corona, flame or plasma treatment is needed before marking or bonding. Painting and plating are not used; colour is set by masterbatch.
Can PE100 BU be formed, bent or molded?
Mainly single-screw pipe extrusion at 190-230 C melt temperature, with small diameters coiled. Fittings are injection moulded from high-MFI grades; shrinkage of about 2% calls for adequate hold pressure and uniform wall thickness.
What is the maximum service temperature of PE100 BU?
PE100 BU is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 80°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PE100 BK and PE100 RT?
BK is the default condition — use the black compound with 2.0–2.5 % carbon black as the standard for buried and outdoor water, gas and sewer mains; it gives long-term UV and oxidation protection at 24 MPa yield. RT: choose for 40–70 °C industrial hot water, district-heating return lines and mining transport, where long-term hydrostatic strength decays more slowly at elevated temperature. Yield strength is 24 MPa in BK versus 21 MPa in RT.
Sources
- ISO 4427-1/-2 Plastics piping systems — Polyethylene (PE) pipes and fittings for water supply — ISO (2019)
- EN 12201-1/-2 Plastics piping systems for water supply — Polyethylene (PE) — CEN (2024)
- EN 1555-1/-2 Plastics piping systems for gaseous fuels — Polyethylene (PE) — CEN (2021)
- ASTM D3350 Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials — ASTM (2021)
- ISO 9080 Determination of long-term hydrostatic strength by extrapolation — ISO (2012)
- PAS 1075 Pipes made from polyethylene for alternative installation techniques (PE100-RC) — DIN (2009)
- PPI Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe, 2nd ed. — Plastics Pipe Institute (2008)
- PE100 pipe compound datasheets (Borouge HE3490-LS, SABIC Vestolen A6060R, TotalEnergies XS10B, Hanwha) (2024)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector HDPE pipe grade property sets — CWFG / UL (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.