Do PE pipelines need to be anticorrosive during buried construction?

In the buried construction of PE pipes, many people will be concerned about whether anti-corrosion treatment is required. In fact, PE (polyethylene) pipes themselves have excellent chemical stability and corrosion resistance, which is one of their significant advantages compared to traditional metal pipes. Under normal circumstances, PE pipes do not need complex anti-corrosion treatment like metal pipes when buried.

PE material itself has strong resistance to acid and alkali, salt spray, and soil corrosion. It is not easy to react with chemicals in the soil, nor will it produce electrochemical corrosion or rust like metal pipes. This allows PE pipes to maintain structural integrity and good transportation performance for a long time in most soil environments based on their own material.

However, this does not mean that PE pipes can be completely "streaking" in any buried environment. In some special cases, appropriate protective measures still need to be considered to ensure the safety and service life of the pipeline system.

First, if the soil environment is extremely harsh, such as the presence of high concentrations of corrosive chemicals, extremely acidic or alkaline soils, which are beyond the tolerance range of the PE material itself, then additional isolation or protective measures may be required for the pipeline, such as the use of special casing or anti-corrosion coating (the coating here is more for extreme chemical corrosion, rather than anti-corrosion in the conventional sense). Secondly, in some areas where there may be a risk of mechanical damage, such as soil containing a large number of sharp stones, frequent ground heavy-load rolling, or potential interference such as construction excavation, in order to prevent the outer wall of the PE pipeline from being scratched or damaged by pressure, measures such as laying cushions (such as fine sand and fine soil), setting up warning belts, and casing protection are usually taken. Although the main purpose of these measures is physical protection, they also indirectly protect the pipeline from corrosion problems that may be caused by damage.

In addition, during the transportation, storage, and construction of PE pipelines, long-term exposure to sunlight should be avoided to prevent ultraviolet aging. Although this does not belong to the anti-corrosion treatment after burial, it is also an important link to ensure the performance of the pipeline. In buried construction, it is crucial to ensure the quality of pipeline connections (such as hot melt and electrofusion connections). High-quality interfaces can effectively prevent the intrusion of external moisture, soil particles, etc., and indirectly ensure the overall anti-corrosion performance of the pipeline.

To sum up, PE pipelines usually do not need special anti-corrosion treatment when buried in conventional soil environments due to their excellent corrosion resistance. However, in the face of extreme corrosive environments, high risk of mechanical damage and other special working conditions, full engineering investigation and evaluation should be carried out, and if necessary, targeted protective measures such as selecting higher grade PE raw materials, adding protective layers, and installing casings should be taken to ensure that the PE pipeline system can operate safely and stably for a long time. At the same time, standardized construction operations and strict quality control also play a role in ensuring the service life of PE pipes.