Aluminum PEX cannot be expanded because expansion could cause the aluminum layer to tear. Therefore PEX-AL-PEX is always produced as a PEX-b tubing. The main benefits of PEX-AL-PEX are that it holds its shape when bent, and that it has an even lower expansion rate than regular PEX, reducing the amount of noise that is produced as your system heats up.
PEX-AL-PEX is a great option for high-temperature applications such as warmboard, baseboard, fan coils and ice-melt systems. You can find Rifeng PEX-AL-PEX, Uponor MultiCor and Viega FostaPEX at www.supplyhouse.com in the Radiant Heat PEX Tubing category.
