Watts Radiant Onix Tube

KP

I am working on a project where the homeowner is specifying Watts Radiant Onix Tubing. Does anyone have experience with this product? What can we expect for longevity? Thanks.

Dave Stroman

The onix is fine for staple up jobs. The tubing will hold up. But, for how long? I use 3/8" Kitec for staple up with Radiant Tech heat transfer plates. In concrete I use 1/2" Wirsbo. This 2 types of tubing work the best for me and have got to last longer than rubber.
Dave in Denver

Art Pittaway

Try it once,

and you will never go back to pex on staple up. Fold it over tight and shove it thru an 1 1/2" hole and it springs back into shape. You can't kink it, it never has expansion noise problems, and you can back your truck over it. People that say Entran/Onix is no good, don't want to remember that it was Good-Year Rubber that caused the Entran 2 problem, not Heatway/Watts Radiant. Been there, done that, would do it again.

Robert O'Connor_7

Heat Way??

Black rubber crossed linked with a Oxy barrier? Great stuff for staple up jobs. It can take the heat needed in higher temp designs. Good Year no longer makes anything for them. It is a bit more $$, about a dollar a foot (depending on where your located) but I think it's good stuff. I've never had a failure or noise complaint and I got a few miles of that stuff out there. Go for it!..Robert O'Connor/NJ

Tim Doran_2

Cross Linked???????

I was not aware that EPDM could be cross linked.

Tim D.

Robert O'Connor_7

Crossed linked

crossed linked with fibers embedded in the tubing. I think if you cut it in half you can see the fibers. It's been a while since I sat down with one of the tech submittals, I could be wrong, I'll check...Robert O'Connor/NJ

Nron_9

entran barrier

does this mean there is no oxygen permation through the pipe or would the pipe require a heat exchanger to protect the boiler from oxygen
Nron

Unknown

O2 Barrier

Onyx has a aluminum O2 Barrier built in.

Unknown

cross limked rubber?

Yes it is cross linked similar to saline method. 385F sauna after extrusion. I have spec sheets in PDF if you want me to e-mail them.

jwade55_3

Remember

that the goodyear entran 2 was a nitrile PVC, the Onix is an EPDM material crosslinked and woven with an arimid core, sheathed with an aluminum o2 barrier.

J

KP

Cord or Crosslinking??????

My confussion on the crosslink is, Watts publishes a statement of "crosslinking"- Is the crosslinking simular to the Engel method or is it a completely different process?
The literature states the "reinforced 1000 denier aramid cord" reinforces the crosslinked tube.

As noted by Tim Doran, can you actually crosslink EPDM material?

Robert O'Connor_7

Heatway

This stuff is extra heavy duty heater hose that has webbing like strands in it to hold it together just like a quality heater hose for a boat or even non critical hosing in air craft. What makes it great for hydronics is the aluminum oxygen barrier. This stuff is rated for a certain temperature and pressure, but I belive you could probably double or triple that figure if you had to in an emergency. Go for it, you won't be disapointed...Robert O'Connor/NJ

jwade55_3

To Expand

Onix is a polymer-rich EPDM; comprising
a five layer, synthetic, flexible tube.
The inner fluid channel is a peroxide
cross-linked, high-grade EPDM. The
inner tube is wrapped with a flexible 00
grade aluminum oxygen barrier. Next is
a peroxide cross-linked middle layer of
EPDM, wrapped by spiral cords of
aramid reinforcing. The cover is a sulphur
cross-linked EPDM.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene
Monomer) is a flexible cross-linked molecule.
The repeating unit is ethylene,
propylene, and a diene, which contains a
double bond for crosslinking. The diene
is ENB (norbornene).
There are many different grades of
EPDM. Unlike other grades of EPDM,
the EPDM used in Onix is a high quality,
polymer-rich formulation, utilizing relatively
high ethylene grades with high
molecular weights.
EPDM was chosen because it has a
proven track record at high temperature
applications. EPDM has been used in
applications such as steam hose since
World War II. Because of its
makeup, EPDM is an extremely stable
polymer for high temperature applications.


Also

Vulcanization is the process that crosslinks
the rubber molecules to form a
stronger, more durable molecule.
Vulcanization involves immersing the
rubber in a steam bath where the energy
from the steam and a peroxide catalyst
cross-link the rubber molecules into
longer polymer chains.
Peroxide vulcanization uses peroxide as a
catalyst in the crosslinking process of
EPDM. The peroxide is scavenged in the
ONIX TESTING process, using three extruders, an aluminum
process, leaving a single carbon-carbon
(C-C) bond. Cross-linking forms a three dimensional
molecular network that makes EPDM
extremely stable over a wide range of
temperatures and pressures

KP

% of Crosslinking??? What's the number?

At the end of the day - What is the final crosslinking percentage number for the Onix Radiant Tubing????

KP

% of Crosslinking??? What's the number?

At the end of the day - What is the final crosslinking percentage number for the Onix Radiant Tubing????