Water heater manufacturers are under pressure to deliver safer, more efficient water heating systems. As regulations tighten and energy costs climb, Envalior’s EcoPaXX®, ForTii®, and Xytron™ thermoplastics help you stay ahead. These lead-free solutions offer the reliability, sustainability, and compliance your customers demand.

As sustainability and public health take center stage, the water heater market is rapidly evolving. Soaring energy prices have driven demand for efficient heaters, boilers, and heat pumps, with global sales of condensing boilers and small tankless systems surging due to their energy efficiency. Simultaneously, heightened awareness of drinking water quality, sparked by crises like Flint, Michigan, has amplified concerns over toxic lead levels. Public health bodies and regulatory agencies are now mandating stricter standards, pushing manufacturers to adopt lead-free materials that improve both safety and sustainability.

Thermoplastics such as polyamide 66 (PA66), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and polyphthalamide (PPA) are increasingly replacing brass and copper in water heating systems. However, while these materials reduce lead risks, they can present challenges in reliability, regulatory compliance, and supply chain disruptions. Advanced materials are essential to overcoming these obstacles, enabling manufacturers to meet evolving performance demands without compromising on quality or compliance.

Advanced materials for superior water heater performance

Envalior’s EcoPaXX®, ForTii®, and Xytron™ thermoplastics deliver best-in-class performance for water heater components. Designed to replace brass and thermoplastic materials like PA66, PPA, PPO, and PPS, these solutions excel in challenging hydrolytic conditions and comply with global water contact regulations, including NSF 61, WRAS, and European Drinking Water Directive.

Hot and warm water resistance: ForTii and Xytron materials demonstrate exceptional hydrolysis resistance and weldline strength, even after 1,000 hours in water at 95°C to 110°C. Xytron is an ideal replacement for brass in high-precision molding, while ForTii offers flexibility for parts with less demanding dimensional tolerances. EcoPaXX grades, specialized for warm water applications, outperform alternatives like low Tg PPA in reliability, providing superior dimensional and hydrolytic stability.

Sustainability and compliance: All three materials are free from harmful leachable substances, ensuring compliance with stringent global safety standards. They provide manufacturers with a seamless transition to sustainable solutions while safeguarding end-user health.

Lowering production costs and improving efficiency

Switching to Envalior’s thermoplastics not only enhances part performance but also reduces production costs. These materials exhibit high flow and easy processing, enabling the cost-effective production by offering greater design flexibility of complex or thin-walled components. 

For example:

• Xytron minimizes flash during production, improving yields and reducing post-production processing.
• EcoPaXX and ForTii deliver superior sealing and bonding properties, simplifying manufacturing processes.
• All materials support drop-in replacement for PA66, PPO, PPA, and PPS, eliminating the need for costly re-tooling.

Envalior is committed to advancing safety, sustainability, and innovation in the water heating industry. With decades of expertise in material science and close collaboration with manufacturers and regulatory bodies, we deliver solutions that meet the highest standards for performance and compliance.

Contact us today to learn how our advanced thermoplastics can help you develop eco-friendly, lead-free water heater components that exceed consumer and industry expectations.