Designs and performance requirements for fittings and manifolds can vary significantly depending on the actual end use, the assembly method and the region of the world where they will be used. All of these factors must be considered when selecting a thermoplastic for these types of applications. The specific considerations for a design may favor one material choice over another.

Solvay offers several materials that can be used in fitting and manifold applications. The two most widely used materials in the European market place include RADEL R PPSU and SOLEF PVDF. Both materials, despite dissimilarities in some key properties, have been shown to produce meeting the performance requirements for fittings and manifolds for European plumbing and heating applications.

In North America the performance requirements (temperature and pressure) are less demanding than those of the European community. However the widespread use of chlorine as a disinfectant in drinking water in North America presents a challenge that is not typically present in Europe.

In the North American market UDEL PSU and ACUDEL PPSU blends are the mostly widely used of plumbing fitting and manifold applications. Performance of these materials, in this market, has been demonstrated by over 12 years of proven field performance in pressurized applications and over 30 years of experience in non-pressurized applications.