What are the advantages and disadvantages of PVC?
- low cost
- easy to work with (cut, thread, mold)
- lots of sizes and connection options
- can be connected with other materials (copper, plastics, etc) with adapters available in most hardware stores
- flexible
- can handle some temperature variation
- some can freeze with water inside and not blow apart, (lower quality will fail)
- longevity
Why you should avoid PVC products?
Why You Should Avoid PVC Products
- Hazardous production
- Environmental racism
- Toxic additives
- Catastrophic accidents
- Terrorist targets
- Dangerous cargo
- No safe use
- Unsafe disposal
- Problematic recycling
- Safer cost-effective alternatives are widely available. How might you be exposed to PVC? You can be exposed to PVC by eating food or drinking water contaminated with it.
What is the difference between PVC and rubber?
PVC is a type of plastic incorporating vinyl groups. This makes it lighter than rubber and more affordable, but it comes with some stiffness in comparison to rubber too. It can be sharp and harsh at the edges, causing discomfort against skin. In addition, it is also less durable than rubber, which is to be expected.
What are the mechanical properties of PVC?
Mechanical. PVC has high hardness and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties enhance with the molecular weight increasing but decrease with the temperature increasing. The mechanical properties of rigid PVC (uPVC) are very good; the elastic modulus can reach 1500–3,000 MPa. The soft PVC (flexible PVC) elastic limit is 1.5–15 MPa.
What kind of plastic is PVC?
thermoplastic polymersPolyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the most commonly used thermoplastic polymers worldwide (next to only a few more widely used plastics like PET and P.P.). It is naturally white and very brittle (before the additions of plasticizers) plastic.
Is PVC plastic natural or synthetic?
synthetic resinPolyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a synthetic resin made from the polymerization of vinyl chloride. PVC is a commonly used polymer that finds applications in a variety of products due to its excellent properties and low cost.
Is PVC plastic toxic?
Many children's school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, can be made out of PVC-a toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment. PVC contains dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child's health.
Is PVC good plastic?
But one plastic stands alone: PVC, throughout its lifecycle, is the most environmentally damaging of all plastics. PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. The PVC lifecycle -- its production, use, and disposal -- results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals.
Is PVC biodegradable?
This work is the first report to demonstrate that PVC, one of the most widely used and highly persistent plastics, can also be depolymerized and biodegraded in T.
What is the difference between PVC and plastic?
As far as its electrical properties, PVC has good insulation, but, because it has polar elements to its composition, it has worse insulation than other plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is extremely chemical-resistant, able to withstand acids, salts, bases, fats, and alcohols.
Is touching PVC harmful?
PVC in its manufactured form is safe to touch.
Is PVC safe for skin?
Although flexible PVC is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.
Is PVC cancerous?
Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.
What are the pros and cons of PVC?
PVC Pros. Usability: PVC is durable and usable for a variety of purposes. In many cases, its sturdiness makes installation much easier and it can be used in a wide range of environments, whether in ceilings, walls, or floors. However, the difference in weight can be an issue (more on that in the cons).
Why is PVC not recycled?
A major problem in the recycling of PVC is the high chlorine content in raw PVC (around 56 percent of the polymer's weight) and the high levels of hazardous additives added to the polymer to achieve the desired material quality. As a result, PVC requires separation from other plastics before mechanical recycling.
Does PVC absorb water?
Non-hygroscopic polymers include PVC, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene and others. They do not absorb moisture internally into the pellet. Dampness can be collected on the surface of pellets, and applying heat is an important part of removing that moisture.
What is synthetic plastic?
Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas or coal. Whilst biobased plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria and other biological substances.
Which one is a natural polymer?
Examples of naturally occurring polymers are silk, wool, DNA, cellulose and proteins. In our previous section on network polymers, we mentioned vulcanized rubber and pectin. Vulcanized rubber is a synthetic (man-made) polymer, while pectin is an example of a natural polymer.
Is PVC safe for skin?
Although flexible PVC is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.
Does plastic occur naturally?
Plastics are derived from materials found in nature, such as natural gas, oil, coal, minerals and plants. The very first plastics were made by nature—did you know that rubber from a rubber tree is actually a plastic?
What is uPVC siding?
If no plasticizers are added, it is known as uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) or rigid PVC. uPVC is extensively used in the building industry as a low-maintenance material, particularly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In the US and Canada, it is known as vinyl or vinyl siding.
How is PVC modified?
PVC can be usefully modified by chlorination, which increases its chlorine content to or above 67%. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, (CPVC), as it is called, is produced by chlorination of aqueous solution of suspension PVC particles followed by exposure to UV light which initiates the free-radical chlorination .
What is PVC used for?
The rigid form of PVC is used in construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. It is also used in making bottles, non-food packaging, food-covering sheets, and cards (such as bank or membership cards).
What percentage of PVC is chlorine?
Some degree of syndiotacticity of the chain gives a few percent crystallinity that is influential on the properties of the material. About 57% of the mass of PVC is chlorine. The presence of chloride groups gives the polymer very different properties from the structurally related material polyethylene.
What is the chemical change that reduces the average molecular weight of polyvinyl chloride?
Degradation. Degradation during service life, or after careless disposal, is a chemical change that drastically reduces the average molecular weight of the polyvinyl chloride polymer. Since the mechanical integrity of a plastic depends on its high average molecular weight, wear and tear inevitably weakens the material.
What is polyvinyl chloride used for?
In this form, it is also used in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, imitation leather, flooring, signage, phonograph records, inflatable products, and many applications where it replaces rubber. With cotton or linen, it is used in the production of canvas . Pure polyvinyl chloride is a white, brittle solid.
When was PVC made?
PVC was synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann after extended investigation and experimentation. The polymer appeared as a white solid inside a flask of vinyl chloride that had been left on a shelf sheltered from sunlight for four weeks. In the early 20th century, the Russian chemist Ivan Ostromislensky and Fritz Klatte of the German chemical company Griesheim-Elektron both attempted to use PVC in commercial products, but difficulties in processing the rigid, sometimes brittle polymer thwarted their efforts. Waldo Semon and the B.F. Goodrich Company developed a method in 1926 to plasticize PVC by blending it with various additives. The result was a more flexible and more easily processed material that soon achieved widespread commercial use.
What is a chlorinated polyvinyl chloride?
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride or perchlorovinyl: It is prepared by chlorination of PVC resin. High chlorine content imparts high durability, chemical stability and flame retardancy. CPVC can withstand a wider range of temperatures.
What is the density of PVC?
Plasticized or Flexible PVC (Density: 1.1-1.35 g/cm 3 ): Flexible PVC is formed by the addition of compatible plasticizers to PVC which lower the crystallinity. These plasticizers act like lubricants resulting in a much clearer and flexible plastic. This type of PVC is sometimes called as PVC-P.
What is the purpose of surfactants in water?
In this process, surfactants (soaps) are used to disperse the vinyl chloride monomer in water. The monomer is trapped inside soap micelles are protected by the soap and polymerization takes place using water soluble initiators.
What is the process of emulsion?
Bulk or Emulsion (E-PVC) Process. In this process, surfactants (soaps) are used to disperse the vinyl chloride monomer in water. The monomer is trapped inside soap micelles are protected by the soap and polymerization takes place using water soluble initiators.
What is the monomer in a pressure tight reactor?
In pressure-tight reactor, the monomer is introduced with polymerization initiator and other additives. The content of the reaction vessel are mixed continuously to maintain suspension and ensure uniform particle size of PVC resin.
What is PVC P?
Unplasticized or Rigid PVC (Density: 1.3-1.45 g/cm 3 ): It is a stiff and cost-effective plastic with high resistance to impact, water, weather, chemicals and corrosive environments. This type of PVC is also known as UPVC, PVC-U or uPVC.
What is the moisture rate of PVC?
Drying before processing is highly recommended, moisture rate should be lower than 0.3%. Drying before processing is highly recommended for plasticized PVC, moisture rate should be lower than 0.3%. Plasticized PVC.
What are the properties of PVC?
Some of the most significant properties of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) are: 1 Density: PVC is very dense compared to most plastics (specific gravity around 1.4) 2 Economics: PVC is readily available and cheap. 3 Hardness: Rigid PVC ranks well for hardness and durability. 4 Strength: Rigid PVC has excellent tensile strength.
What is PVC made of?
PVC is produced in two general forms: a rigid or unplasticized polymer (RPVC or uPVC), and the second as a flexible plastic. In its base form, PVC is characterized by its rigid yet brittle structure. While the plasticized version holds various uses across multiple industries, the rigid version of PVC also has its share of uses.
What materials are needed for injection molding?
Those that aren't are likely to be hesitant to work with the material. Additionally, unique corrosive resistant materials like stainless steel or chrome plating are required for the mold tool when injection molding PVC plastic.
What is rigid PVC pipe?
Rigid PVC is also used in construction as a pipe for plumbing and siding, commonly referred to by the term "vinyl" in the United States . PVC pipe is often referred to by its "schedule" (e.g., Schedule 40 or Schedule 80). Significant differences between the schedules include things like wall thickness, pressure rating, and color.
What is flexible PVC used for?
Flexible PVC is commonly used in construction as insulation on electrical wires or in flooring for homes, hospitals, schools, and other areas where a sterile environment is a priority. In some cases, PVC can act as an effective replacement for rubber. Rigid PVC is also used in construction as a pipe for plumbing and siding, ...
How much shrinkage is in PVC?
Shrinkage in PVC tends to be between one and two percent. It can still vary based on several factors, including material durometer (hardness), gate size, holding pressure, holding time, melt temperature, mold wall thickness, mold temperature, and the percentage and type of additives.
What are the characteristics of PVC?
Some of PVC plastic's most important characteristics include its relatively low price, its resistance to environmental degradation (as well as to chemicals and alkalis), high hardness, and outstanding tensile strength for plastic in the case of rigid PVC.
What is PVC..?
PVC, also known as PVC, is an industrial plastic with the oldest history. The full name is called Polyvinyl chloride, abbreviated as PVC.
What is UPVC plastic ?
The uPVC resin is the next generation of PVC resin, basically these two resins are made from Polyvinyl chloride. PVC is usually just hard, while upvc plastic is tough.
PVC application
Thanks to many outstanding advantages of PVC, this plastic is very popular. Currently, PVC is used a lot in life.
PVC chemical advantages
It is not natural that PVC is so popular, but because there are many outstanding advantages, as well as the benefits that this plastic brings, including:
How is PVC pipe made?
PVC pipes are manufactured by extrusion of raw material PVC , and generally follow the same steps of typical pipe extrusion operations: Feeding of raw material pellets / powder into the PVC twin screw extruder. Melting and heating in multiple extruder zones. Extruding through a die to shape into a pipe. Cooling of the shaped pipe.
What is PVC piping?
Since PVC piping is one of the most used types of piping , there is a lot of competition between manufacturers. It is therefore of paramount importance for PVC pipe producers to differentiate themselves from their competitors, both in terms of delivering consistent product quality, as well as offering a wide range of products at competitive prices. Such differentiation can only be achieved through the use of world class manufacturing equipment, that maximizes productivity while minimizing costs and has the capacity to produce a wide variety of PVC pipe sizes. DRTS offers a range of effective turnkey solutions that guarantee this type of effective operation, such as equipment with integrated Industry 4.0 functionality, advanced connectivity, ease of integration and multi-layer die heads that maximize savings.
Overview
Polyvinyl chloride (colloquial: polyvinyl, or simply vinyl; abbreviated: PVC) is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene). About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year.
PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in construction for pipe and in profile ap…
Discovery
PVC was synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann after extended investigation and experimentation. The polymer appeared as a white solid inside a flask of vinyl chloride that had been left on a shelf sheltered from sunlight for four weeks. In the early 20th century, the Russian chemist Ivan Ostromislensky and Fritz Klatte of the German chemical company Griesheim-Elektron both attempted to use PVC in commercial products, but difficulties in processing the ri…
Production
Polyvinyl chloride is produced by polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), as shown.
About 80% of production involves suspension polymerization. Emulsion polymerization accounts for about 12%, and bulk polymerization accounts for 8%. Suspension polymerization affords particles with average diameters of 100–1…
Additives
The product of the polymerization process is unmodified PVC. Before PVC can be made into finished products, it always requires conversion into a compound by the incorporation of additives (but not necessarily all of the following) such as heat stabilizers, UV stabilizers, plasticizers, processing aids, impact modifiers, thermal modifiers, fillers, flame retardants, biocides, blowing agents and smok…
Properties
PVC is a thermoplastic polymer. Its properties are usually categorized based on rigid and flexible PVCs.
PVC has high hardness and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties enhance with the molecular weight increasing but decrease with the temperature increasing. The mechanical properties of rigid PVC (uPVC) are very good; the elastic modulus can reach 1500–3,000 MPa. Th…
Applications
Roughly half of the world's PVC resin manufactured annually is used for producing pipes for municipal and industrial applications. In the private homeowner market, it accounts for 66% of the household market in the US, and in household sanitary sewer pipe applications, it accounts for 75%. Buried PVC pipes in both water and sanitary sewer applications that are 100 mm (4 in) in d…
Chlorinated PVC
PVC can be usefully modified by chlorination, which increases its chlorine content to or above 67%. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, (CPVC), as it is called, is produced by chlorination of aqueous solution of suspension PVC particles followed by exposure to UV light which initiates the free-radical chlorination. The reaction produces CPVC, which can be used in hotter and more corrosive environments than PVC.
Health and safety
Degradation during service life, or after careless disposal, is a chemical change that drastically reduces the average molecular weight of the polyvinyl chloride polymer. Since the mechanical integrity of a plastic depends on its high average molecular weight, wear and tear inevitably weakens the material. Weathering degradation, such as photoxidation, results in surface embrittlement and micro…