Poly Camlock fittings as well as other polypropylene fittings are used in environments where the media being transferred is corrosive and the temperatures are elevated. Polypropylene is extremely light, the lightest of all industrial thermoplastics, and is ideal when used with almost every acid. Like all rules, there are exceptions and the exception is active oxidizers such as nitric acid.
Polypropylene is inexpensive because it is a byproduct of petroleum distillation, it is extremely easy to fabricate and form. The chemical composition of the material makes it ideal for the production of Poly Camlock fittings that are resistant to most acids, bases and solvents. Pipe made from the same material is ideal for transferring fluids between processes. During the manufacture of the material, it is tinted black because black and dark gray decreases the degradation of the material when exposed to UV light.
Many industrial plastics are joined with a solvent-based adhesive which is subject to attack by caustic substances. As Poly Camlock fittings are mated to pipes using a fusion weld process there are few issues. The fusion welding process makes piping made from Poly the ideal carrier for distilled water as there is no adhesive to degrade the quality of the water. When used under pressure, the fluid temperature can be as high as 150 degrees F, even higher when the application is not pressurized. The base pressure is 20 PSI.
Polypropylene does not conduct electricity. This gives the material a significant advantage over pipes made from metal in many industrial uses. The material itself is extremely tough and when used in piping applications, it rarely splits.
One of the more interesting applications for poly piping and poly Camlock fittings is acting as a guardrail when go-kart tracks are set up on a temporary basis. As the material can withstand impact stresses very well, any contact with the guardrail usually results in no damage to the kart or the guardrail. In many cases these tracks are set up on a temporary basis so set-up and take-down must be quick and efficient, exactly what this pipe and the corresponding Camlock fittings can guarantee. With the materials being so light weight, it is easy to load and offload and saves on transportation costs.
