Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

CHAPTER

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 characteristics from the properties of its raw materials. The essential components of gasketed
PVC pipe are two polymeric materials: PVC compounds and elastomeric seal compounds. 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 applicationdependent. 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 additional 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 specification 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 compound, 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 properties, 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 manufacturer 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 resistance, 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 compounds may be easily identified and compared with standard requirements by defining the
appropriate cell classifications for the compounds.

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Committee PVC_2.indd 2.5

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.)

0
Base resin

Impact strength
(lzod), min:
J/m of notch
ft-lb/in. of notch

Tensile
strength, min:
MPa
psi
Modulus of
elasticity in
tension, min:
MPa
psi

unspecified

800.7
15.0

10

11

poly(vinyl
chlorinated
vinyl
chloride)
poly(vinyl copolymer
homopolymer chloride)

unspecified

,34.7
,0.65

34.7
0.65

80.1
1.5

266.9
5.0

533.8
10.0

unspecified

,34.5
,5 000

34.5
5 000

41.4
6 000

48.3
7 000

55.2
8 000

unspecified

,1930
,280 000

1930
280 000

2206
320 000

,55
,131
A

55
131
A

60
140
A

Deflection
temperature under
load, min, 1.82
MPa (264 psi):
8C
unspecified
8F
Flammability
A

2482
2758
3034
360 000 400 000 440 000

70
158
A

80
176
A

90
194
A

100 110 120 130 140

212 230 251 266 284
A
A

Note: The minimum property value will determine the cell number although the maximum expected value may fall within a higher cell.

2.5

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.

Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

Cell Limits

Property
and Unit

Raw Materials

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Designation
Order
No.

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Handbook of PVC Pipe Design and Construction

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Chapter 2

Class

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 (70C (158F))

Fig. 2.1 Example compoundClass 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

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 compoundPVC pipe material code. The manner in which selected materials
are identified by this material code is illustrated by a PVC 1120 compound having the requirements 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 specified 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.)

Tests
Original properties:
Tensile strength, min, MPa (psi)*
Elongation, min, %
Hardness, type A durometer
Low-temperature hardness, type A durometer, max
increase, points
Compression set, max %
Ozone resistance

Low head
application
(below 150 kPa
or 50-ft head)

High head
application
(150 kPa or
50-ft head
and above)

8.3 (1,200)
325
4060
15

13.8 (2,000)
400
4060
15

25
No cracks

20
No cracks

15
20
8

15
20
8

Accelerated aging (air oven test):

Decrease in tensile strength, max % of original
Decrease in elongation, max % of original
Hardness, type A durometer, max increase, points
After water immersion:
Change in volume max %
*

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 ComponentsHealth Effects2011, NSF International, Ann
Arbor, MI (2011).
Typical Properties of Elastomeric Compounds. Acushnet Company, Rubber Division, New Bedford, MA.

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