 Plastic Tubing
Oxford Plastics Inc. manufactures polyethylene plastic tubing for distribution throughout Canada and the
United States. Extruded in sizes ranging from 5/16" (8mm) to 4" (100mm), our hdpe tubing offers long term ruggedness that is flexible, lightweight, chemical and corrosion resistant. With excellent flow rates, our poly tubing
systems are the perfect solution for a variety of applications. If you want to become a member
of our network as a distributor of our hdpe tubing for your own industry
and customers, please contact us today and we will gladly answer
any of your questions.
Pipe vs Tubing
To the average layman, pipe and tubing are practically identical. Both are hollow cylinders used to convey a variety of materials from one place to another. And yet at first glance, tubing conveys notions of flexibility, light weight, length and something that is small in diameter. These are some of the same notions associated with plastic and less so with metal materials. Pipe, on the other, is often thought of as more rigid, heavy, shorter and larger in diameter. Plastic pipe confuses these distinctions and forces us to reconsider the pipe vs tubing distinction.
While most of us would guess that the difference between pipe and tubing has something to do with the material of construction, the kind of material has very little to do with it. The main difference between a pipe and tubing comes down to two things; 1) how they are measured, and 2) function or what they are used for.
What is Pipe?
Pipe is traditionally thought of as a hollow cylinder used for transporting both liquids and gases from one location to another. It is generally considered an older product that was first designed around the volume of fluid that had to be moved. But pipe is more than just a medium for transporting liquids and gases. For example, it can also be used to protect sensitive cabling including electric conduit and fiber optic cabling.
To standardized the industry, a chart of standards was created and called the Pipe Chart. This chart not only gives you the pipe size which is a measurement of its ID or inside diameter. This is also referred to as its nominal pipe size. The chart also lists its outside diameter (OD) in inches and the scheduling which is the wall thickness of the pipe.
1. Pipe is measured by its ID or inside diameter.
2. Pipe is more than just a hollow cylinder for moving liquids and gases, it can be used to house conduit to protect it from a range of external factors.
What is Tubing?
Like pipe, tubing is a hollow cylinder for the conveyance of both liquids and gases. But unlike pipe which is measured by its inside diameter or ID, tubing is measured by its outside diameter or OD. In contrast to pipe, tubing can also include non-cylindrical shapes, i.e. square or even rectangular tubing. The word "tubing" itself is more widely used in North America, whereas the word "pipe" is more common elsewhere in the world.
While pipe implies a level of rigidity and permanence, tubing is often thought of as more flexible and portable. Tubing can be made to custom sizes and usually has more specific sizes and tolerances than pipe. It also implies a lightness of weight, a length and small diameter usually not associated with pipe. Indeed, anything less than 4 inches in diameter is often referred to as tubing. Tubing can be clear or colored, while pipe is generally opaque.
1. Tubing is measured by its OD or outside diameter.
2. Tubing is usually restricted in use to the transportation of liquids and gases.
Pipe vs Tubing
Despite their differences, plastic tubing and pipe are often chosen for the same reasons: 1) light weight, 2) flexibility, 3) strength, 4) chemical resistance and other non-corrosive properties and 5) the ease of making connections during installation. Both are also made from many other different kinds of materials in addition to polyethylene. Other plastic materials include everything from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to cross-linked high-density polyethylene (PEX), polybutylene (PB), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). While the material of their construction can mean different properties are at play, tubing and pipe are not only measured differently, pipe has a broader range of applications than tubing.
To help select the right plastic tubing solution for your project, this website provides
all kinds of technical specifications and is full of articles and
advice to assist you in making an informed purchasing decision.
If you are a distributor or contractor, and require more technical information on
our plastic tubing products please visit our Product
Binder.
In addition to the
various dealers that we have throughout North America and around the world, our staff
are ready to assist you with your technical and design questions.
You can also contact us by mail at:
P.O. Box 119, Oxford Road 6
Embro, Ontario
CANADA
N0J 1J0
Our toll free telephone
number 1.800.263.0502 will reach us from anywhere in the
USA and Canada. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call
us and thank you visiting our website.
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