Are electrofusion fittings susceptible to wear or degradation over long-term use?

As a common pipe connection fitting, electrofusion fittings are widely used in water conservancy, natural gas, chemical and other industries. It connects the pipe and fittings through electric current heating, thereby achieving a sealed and firm connection.

The material and manufacturing process of electrofusion fittings have an important impact on their wear and degradation during long-term use. Electrofusion fittings are usually made of corrosion-resistant and high-temperature resistant materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which have certain wear resistance and durability. However, with the passage of time, these materials may still age or degrade under complex environments such as high temperature, high pressure, and chemical corrosion. High temperature environment may cause polymer molecular chains to break, thereby affecting its mechanical strength and causing the connection performance of electrofusion fittings to deteriorate.

In water pipe systems, electrofusion fittings are often impacted by water flow, especially in high-pressure water flow or water flow containing solid particles. Long-term scouring will cause the surface of electrofusion fittings to wear. This wear not only affects the appearance of the fittings, but may also cause the sealing performance of the connection parts to deteriorate, increasing the risk of leakage. When electrofusion fittings are exposed to the external environment, ultraviolet radiation may also cause degradation of plastic materials, cracks or brittleness on the surface, thereby affecting their service life.

The degradation of electrofusion fittings is also closely related to the working environment in which they are located. In the chemical industry, electrofusion fittings are often exposed to various chemical media, and some chemicals may corrode the fitting materials. Especially in some extreme chemical environments such as strong acids and alkalis, electrofusion fittings may degrade due to chemical corrosion, affecting their sealing and pressure bearing capacity. Even for materials with good corrosion resistance, long-term exposure to specific chemicals will cause their performance to gradually decline or even fail completely.

In addition to physical and chemical external factors, the installation quality and operating conditions of electrofusion fittings also determine the degree of wear and degradation in long-term use to a certain extent. If the electrofusion fittings are not heated correctly or operated improperly during installation, it may lead to incomplete connection of the joint part and form weak areas. Such fittings are susceptible to greater pressure in long-term use, causing them to gradually wear or crack, further affecting the safety and stability of the entire pipeline system.

For some electrofusion fittings that are exposed to harsh environments for a long time, their surfaces may degrade due to excessive mechanical wear, chemical corrosion or temperature fluctuations. Especially in some high-load, high-pressure piping systems, electrofusion fittings will face greater use pressure, which accelerates their degradation process. Although electrofusion fittings can provide reliable connections in the early stage of use, their long-term pressure bearing capacity and sealing performance will be affected by the use environment and gradually lose their original advantages.