SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM vs UV Rays

UV Rays Have Had Their Say Too

At Serravalle Copper Tubes, working with quality and developing solutions ever closer to market needs is part of our DNA.

Over time, we’ve all seen the effects of sunlight on insulating sheaths typically used in air conditioning systems. Some installers have reported that the insulation on the copper tubing connecting split units deteriorates over time — in some cases, even leaving the pipe exposed and uninsulated.

UV rays emitted by the sun have never been kind to plastics: a polymer exposed to sunlight tends to crystallise, gradually losing its physical and mechanical properties until it ultimately breaks apart.

The market initially addressed this issue by providing installers with an additional “aluminium” sheath, designed to protect the pipe insulation from UV damage. However, since this protection consisted of a simple tape, it often came loose over time, leaving parts of the insulation exposed — and making the solution ineffective.

That’s how SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM was born — the copper tube with a halogen-free protective sheath, specifically designed to resist UV rays.

From the very beginning, lab tests gave encouraging results. Additional stress tests were carried out under extreme conditions, and we confirmed that the product offered a reliable and long-lasting solution against UV exposure.

However, we didn’t stop at laboratory testing — we also verified the product’s performance in real-world conditions.

At our facility, we placed a coil of SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM in a fully exposed outdoor area, without any shade or protection from the elements. Next to it, we positioned a standard air conditioning tube with traditional white insulation.

Today, after four years, we’ve decided to share the results — and they’re nothing short of impressive.

We’ll let the photos speak for themselves…

Test started: February 2014 On the left, a tube with standard white insulation. On the right, a SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM tube.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft"></figure><figure class="wp-block-image alignleft"></figure>July 2015 On the left, a tube with standard white insulation. On the right, a SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM tube. <figure class="wp-block-image"></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"></figure>February 2018 On the left, a tube with standard white insulation. On the right, a SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM tube. <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft"></figure><figure class="wp-block-image alignleft"></figure>The white insulation, after 4 years, is unusable and needs to be replaced. SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM, on the other hand, remains intact, with the insulation still soft and in perfect condition to perform its function.

But beware: it’s not enough for the insulation to be grey in colour to withstand the sun. There’s a great deal of engineering and effort behind achieving these results.

<figure class="wp-block-image"></figure>Testing on SMISOL CLIM PLATINUM continues — we’ll keep you updated.