Manhole Cover Polymer

What is a polymer gate manhole cover and what advantages does it have over traditional manholes? The use of manhole covers is essential for accessing urban infrastructure; as infrastructure requires periodic servicing and repairs, emergencies sometimes necessitate immediate access to them due to infrastructure issues. Depending on where the manhole is to be installed, it will have different properties and characteristics.

Polymer gates are used in pedestrian walkways, airports, factories, and busy streets, each requiring specific features. Originally, manhole covers were made of concrete and cast iron, but later they were produced from polymer and composite materials (resin and fibers). Concrete is very heavy and lacks chemical resistance. Cast iron manhole covers are also very expensive and have low resistance to chemicals and escaping gases.

Lightweight of polymer manhole covers

However, compared to the aforementioned types, polymer materials are lighter in weight and have excellent chemical resistance; they do not corrode or rust, ensuring a long lifespan. To enhance certain physical and mechanical properties, various polymers can be combined.

This process, known as copolymerization, occurs in random, alternating, block, and graft forms. Essentially, two types of long chains are combined to achieve optimal properties. Thus, combining and copolymerizing can simultaneously achieve unique physical, mechanical, and chemical properties for each polymer in a single piece.

Advantages of polymer gate manhole covers

1. Lightweight compared to other covers
2. Resistant to pressure
3. Very long lifespan
4. Easy to move and handle
5. Produced in various shapes, colors, and sizes
6. Easy installation and setup
7. Lower cost compared to other manholes

High resistance of polymer gates

Depending on the need for strength and durability in a location due to high traffic, the type and classification of polymer gate covers will vary. For instance, when it is determined that a composite manhole cover polymer gate is required for a pedestrian walkway, the load tolerance depends on the weight of pedestrians and cyclists, and a load tolerance of up to 15 KN is sufficient, placing it in the first category.

However, if a manhole or gate is needed in public parking lots, street crossings, or residential complexes due to vehicle traffic, it must withstand a greater load. A polymer gate should be able to withstand approximately 125 kilograms, placing it in the second class. Sometimes on highways where vehicle traffic is at high speeds, a gate is required that can bear a weight of 250 tons. Certainly, in cases requiring higher load tolerance, polymers fulfilling these requirements and needs must be used.

Types of polymer gate classes

If heavy-duty vehicles are present in an area of high traffic, the gate must withstand a load of 40 tons. The final category, which can withstand a load of up to 60 tons, is used for heavy-duty vehicles, such as those at airports. Properties required by gates are prepared based on standards, such as chemical resistance ASTM D 543, tensile strength ASTM D 638:2003, flexural properties ASTM D 790:2003, hardness ASTM D 2583:1994, flammability, water absorption, and water resistance according to ASTM D635:2003, ASTM D570:1994, and ASTM D1501:1994, which must be followed in the production of polymer gates, and these factors should be carefully considered when purchasing a polymer gate.