Polyethylene pipe behaves under freezing compared to PVC by:

• A. Expansive under freezing but will not fracture
• B. Less expansive than PVC
• C. More prone to cracking
• D. No change under freezing

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how pipe materials respond to the stress of freezing water — namely, ductility and fracture resistance. When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands and pushes outward. Polyethylene is highly ductile and can deform or expand slightly without cracking, so it can accommodate that ice-induced stress rather than fail. PVC, on the other hand, is rigid and tends to be brittle in cold conditions, making it more prone to cracking under the same pressure. So polyethylene behaves as expandable under freezing while remaining resistant to fracture, which is why it’s favored for lines that may experience freezing.