Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP) and Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) Difference

What is RTP and TCP pipe ?

The reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP) as well known as flexible composite pipe (FCP) is generic term referring to a reliable high strength synthetic fiber (such as glass, aramid or carbon) or high strength steel wire reinforced pipe system. It is an alternative to

traditional pipelining materials. It consists of three basic layers including a thermoplastic liner, helically wrapped continuous high-strength fiber reinforcement and an external thermoplastic jacket.

Typically, the materials used in the construction of the pipe might be polyethylene (PE), PA11 or PVDF and may be reinforced with aramid or polyester fiber or high strength steel wire, although other combinations are used. It is available in coils up to 400 m (1,312 ft) in

length. The pipes are available in pressure ratings from 30 to 450 bar (3 to 45 MPa; 435 to 6,527 psi). Recent innovations include gas tight RTP and RTP for high operating temperatures.

The general RTP pipe is unbonded cause the holt-melt adhesive is made from Polyethylene (PE) matrix. The hot-melt adhesive is used to stick the inner lining and the outer jacket to the reinforced layer and it fully integrates with the HDPE when it is heated together. It is used in lower pressure and less demanding temperature applications compared to the fully bonded TCP (thermoplastic composite pipe).

The thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), which named bonded-reinforcement structure of RTP pipe, also consist of reinforced thermoplastic composites, quite similar as general RTP pipes, they are suited to higher pressures and a greater temperature range for following reasons. First, some bonded RTP(TCP) uses higher performing thermoplastic resins, such as PEEK, and/or carbon fiber. Second, TCP pipe reinforcement layers are bonded to each other through melt-fusion, which yields higher performance properties than RTP made from the same materials.

What is the structure of the RTP pipe and TCP pipe ?

Both RTP pipe and TCP pipe comes up with three basic layers : an inner thermoplastic layer, a continuous fiber reinforcement wrapped around the pipe, and an outer thermoplastic layer.

Inner layer generally comes up with polyethylene (PE100), inner layer can also apply PERT-1, PERT-2, EVOH etc. material as core pipe (inner layer).

, RTP pipe reinforcement layer is unbonded structure, which consists of separate unbonded polymeric and metallic layers, which allows relative movement between layers.

TCP is bonded structure that all three layers are fully bonded with each other. bonded flexible pipes the reinforcement material ( such as fiberglass) is integrated and bonded to layers.

The major reinforcement material of RTP and TCP pipe ?

For non-metallic fiberglass reinforcement, both RCP and RTP pipe use the impregnated treatment fiberglass roving/tape as the reinforcement. The impregnation material is a kind of polyethylene friend material which has good bonding surface between PE and fiber.