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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

CHAPTER
2
Raw Materials

PVC Pipe Compounds



Gasket Materials

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

2.2 Chapter 2

Table of Contents

2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 2.3


2.2 PVC Pipe Compounds ................................................................................. 2.3
2.2.1 PVC Resin ..............................................................................................2.3
2.2.2 Properties of PVC Compounds ..............................................................2.3
2.2.3 Cell Class and Plastic Pipe Material Code ............................................2.4
2.3 Gasket Materials .......................................................................................... 2.7
2.4 Sources ......................................................................................................... 2.8

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

Raw Materials 2.3

2.1 Introduction

Gasketed joint PVC pipe derives its physical properties and performance charac-
teristics from the properties of its raw materials. The essential components of gasketed
PVC pipe are two polymeric materials: PVC compounds and elastomeric seal com-
pounds. The following brief summary of these materials’ properties provides a solid
foundation for understanding and appreciation of pipe capabilities and limitations.

2.2 PVC Pipe Compounds

PVC pipe manufacturers purchase raw materials in one of two forms:


▪ pre-blended PVC extrusion compound
▪ PVC resin and other ingredients for preparation of their own compounds.
Most major manufacturers choose the second option, blending their own extrusion
compounds.

2.2.1 PVC Resin

In North America, PVC resin, the building block of PVC pipe, is derived from
saltwater and natural gas. Before it is processed into PVC pipe compound, PVC resin
resembles granulated sugar in appearance and texture. The resin offers excellent physical,
chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties for PVC pipe; however, without additional
processing, it cannot be extruded successfully into finished PVC pipe.
Compounds made from PVC resins are of three types: plastisols, flexibles, and rigids.
Each compound type is used in the manufacture of different types of PVC products:
Plastisols may be used in production of footwear; flexibles, which contain plasticizers,
may be used in production of hose; and rigids, which do not contain plasticizers, are used
in the production of PVC pipe.

2.2.2 Properties of PVC Compounds

Rigid PVC compounds are mixtures of PVC resin and a combination of stabilizers,
lubricants, pigments, and modifiers. Rigid compounds prepared for PVC pipe extrusion
are carefully designed and developed to provide specific properties that are application-
dependent. For example, relatively high tensile strength is required for PVC pressure
pipe, while nonpressure pipe performance relies more critically on modulus of elasticity.

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

2.4 Chapter 2

Therefore, formulating compounds for a specific application is an integral part of PVC


pipe production.
Rigid PVC pipe compounds designed for transport of potable water must meet addi-
tional criteria based on toxicological properties and design stress properties. Design
stress properties are demonstrated by long-term testing under hydrostatic pressure.
Hydrostatic design stress ratings are established after long-term hydrostatic testing in
accordance with ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and
Materials) D2837. Certification of potable water quality by an independent laboratory
is provided with purchased PVC water pipe, assuring the user of its inherent health
benefit.

2.2.3 Cell Class and Plastic Pipe Material Code

To define the properties of PVC compounds, ASTM has established standard specifica-
tion D1784, Standard Specification for Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Chlorinated
Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Compounds. This specification defines a five-digit cell class
designation system, which describes minimum physical properties for an example com-
pound, as shown in Table 2.1.
The five properties designated in Table 2.1 are: (1) name of base resin, (2) Izod
impact strength, (3) tensile strength, (4) elastic modulus in tension, and (5) deflection
temperature under heat and load. Figure 2.1 shows how this classification system can
describe minimum properties for an example compound. The cell-type format provides
the means for identification, close characterization, and specification of material prop-
erties, alone or in combination, for a broad range of materials. This format, however,
is subject to possible misapplication, since unobtainable property combinations might
be selected by a user unfamiliar with commercially available materials. The manufac-
turer should be consulted.
Prior to the development of the current cell classification system for PVC compounds
defined in ASTM D1784, PVC pipe compounds were specified by means of a four-digit
plastic pipe material code. The former plastic pipe material code defined three properties
of a designated PVC compound: one digit for Izod impact, one digit for chemical resis-
tance, and two digits describing hydrostatic design stress in units of 100 psi. Figure 2.2
shows how the former material code describes the specific properties of an example PVC
pipe compound.
PVC compounds are produced in vast variety; the properties afforded by specific com-
pounds may be easily identified and compared with standard requirements by defining the
appropriate cell classifications for the compounds.

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Table 2.1 Class requirements for rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC)
compounds for ASTM D1784 (Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA.
Reprinted with permission.)

Desig-
Property Cell Limits
nation
Order and Unit
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No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1 Base resin unspecified poly(vinyl chlorinated vinyl
chloride) poly(vinyl copolymer
homopolymer chloride)
2 Impact strength

Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction


(lzod), min:
J/m of notch unspecified ,34.7 34.7 80.1 266.9 533.8 800.7
ft-lb/in. of notch ,0.65 0.65 1.5 5.0 10.0 15.0

Raw Materials
3 Tensile
strength, min:
MPa unspecified ,34.5 34.5 41.4 48.3 55.2
psi ,5 000 5 000 6 000 7 000 8 000
4 Modulus of
elasticity in
tension, min:
MPa unspecified ,1930 1930 2206 2482 2758 3034
psi ,280 000 280 000 320 000 360 000 400 000 440 000
5 Deflection
temperature under
load, min, 1.82
MPa (264 psi):
8C unspecified ,55 55 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140
8F ,131 131 140 158 176 194 212 230 251 266 284
Flammability A A A A A A A A A
A
All compounds covered by this specification, when tested in accordance with Test Method ASTM D 635, shall yield the following results: average extent of burning, 25 mm;
average time of burning, ,10 s.

2.5
Note: The minimum property value will determine the cell number although the maximum expected value may fall within a higher cell.
15/11/12 4:02 PM
Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

2.6 Chapter 2

Class 1 2 4 5 4
Identification:
Polyvinyl chloride homopolymer
Property and minimum value:
Impact strength (Izod) (34.7 J/m (0.65 ft-lbf/in.))
Tensile strength (48.3 MPa (7,000 psi))
Modulus of elasticity in tension (2,758 MPa (400,000 psi))
Deflection temperature under load (70°C (158°F))

Fig. 2.1 Example compound—Class requirements for ASTM D1784. The manner in which
selected materials are identified by this classification system is illustrated by a Class 12454 rigid
PVC compound having the requirements shown in parentheses. (Copyright ASTM International,
100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA. Reprinted with permission.)

Material code PVC 1 1 2 0

Identification:

Polyvinyl chloride homopolymer

Property and minimum value:

Type 1— impact strength (Izod)


(34.7 J/m (0.65 ft-lbf/in.)) minimum

Grade 1— chemical resistance, as defined under


suffix B in ASTM D1784, prior to 1995

Hydrostatic design stress, units of 100 psi

Fig. 2.2 Example compound—PVC pipe material code. The manner in which selected materials
are identified by this material code is illustrated by a PVC 1120 compound having the require-
ments shown in parentheses. (Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, PA. Reprinted with permission.)

Just as PVC compounds are frequently designed for specific end-uses, so too are the
cell classification systems that define the needed physical properties of those compounds.
The use of these systems allows the product standards to directly address the performance
characteristics of concern in the end-use product.
To summarize, pipes marked with a four-digit material code were manufactured with a
compound as defined in an earlier version of ASTM D1784 (i.e., the 1965 edition of ASTM
D1784). Pipes with a five-digit cell classification were made from a compound defined by
the more recent editions of ASTM D1784. The current edition of ASTM D1784 provides

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

Raw Materials 2.7

the most commonly used cell classification system for PVC pipe. All of these standards
provide for quality control in the manufacturing of compounds for pipe and fittings.

2.3 Gasket Materials

Gasket materials should comply in all respects with the physical requirements speci-
fied in ASTM F477, Standard Specification for Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for Joining
Plastic Pipe.
ASTM F477 specifies that elastomeric gaskets be used to seal joints of plastic pipe
used for gravity, low pressure, and high pressure applications. Table 2.2 defines physical
requirements of elastomeric seals for plastic pipe.

Table 2.2 Physical requirements of elastomeric seals for plastic pipe (ASTM F477).
(Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA.
Reprinted with permission.)

High head
Low head application
application (150 kPa or
(below 150 kPa 50-ft head
Tests or 50-ft head) and above)
Original properties:
Tensile strength, min, MPa (psi)* 8.3 (1,200) 13.8 (2,000)
Elongation, min, % 325 400
Hardness, type A durometer 40–60 40–60
Low-temperature hardness, type A durometer, max 15 15
increase, points
Compression set, max % 25 20
Ozone resistance No cracks No cracks
Accelerated aging (air oven test):
Decrease in tensile strength, max % of original 15 15
Decrease in elongation, max % of original 20 20
Hardness, type A durometer, max increase, points 8 8
After water immersion:
Change in volume max % 5 5
*
For EPDM and nitrile seals, tensile strength min. MPa (psi) is 10.3 (1500).

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

2.8 Chapter 2

2.4 Sources

ASTM D256, Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics.
ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA (2010).

ASTM D618, Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing. ASTM International (2008).

ASTM D635, Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in
a Horizontal Position. ASTM International (2010).

ASTM D638, Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics. ASTM International (2010).

ASTM D648, Standard Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics under Flexural Load in the
Edgewise Position. ASTM International (2007).

ASTM D1755, Standard Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride Resins. ASTM International (2011).

ASTM D1784, Standard Specification for Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Compounds and (CPVC)
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Compounds. ASTM International (2011).

ASTM D2837, Standard Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe
Materials or Pressure Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe Products. ASTM International (2011).

ASTM D4703, Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens,
Plaques or Sheets. ASTM International (2010).

ASTM F477, Standard Specification for Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for Joining Plastic Pipe. ASTM
International (2010).

Nass, L.I., Heiberger, C.A. Encyclopedia of PVC: Compounding Processes, Product Design, and
Specifications. CRC Press (1992).

NSF Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components—Health Effects–2011, NSF International, Ann
Arbor, MI (2011).

Typical Properties of Elastomeric Compounds. Acushnet Company, Rubber Division, New Bedford, MA.

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