PVC and

CPVC
Solvent
Cement

By: Devanshu Joshi

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 INDEX
Page No.

➢ Basic Introduction 3
➢ Ideal Characteristics of Solvent Cement 4
➢ Formulations 5
➢ Some Tested Formulations 7
➢ Other Formulations 10
➢ Market 12
➢ Big Players in Solvent Cement 12
➢ Indian Standards for Solvent Cement 13
➢ For Certifications 13

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 Introduction
• What is Solvent Cement?

Solvent Cement is sometimes known as PVC Cement. It is an adhesive substance

and used to join two pieces of PVC. Although it is called cement, it is more similar to
welding, since it melts the two pieces of PVC in one piece in the same way that a
welder does.

The most important thing to know about solvent cement

is that it’s not glue. Solvent cement is made up of CPVC resin, stabilizers and
fillers dissolved in a cocktail of solvents.

Type of Solvent Cements:

• CPVC Solvent Cement

• UPVC Solvent Cement
• PVC Solvent Cement

Ingredients and Usage of Solvent Cements:

Solvent Cement contains a solvent, PVC resin that is essential liquid PVC, methyl
ethyl ketone that breaks the top layer of the PVC in both the pipe and the fitting to be
cemented. Once the solvents break down the PVC pipe and the assembly, the resin
moves in the spaces between the PVC molecules. The solvent is then evaporated
and the two pieces of PVC are fused together permanently.

(To know More :

Reference : 1. https://doublemhomz.com/types-of-solvent-cement-and-its-uses/
2. https://www.corzan.com/blog/what-is-solvent-cement-and-why-is-it-used-
for-cpvc-piping-systems )

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 Ideal Characteristics of Solvent
Cement

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 Formulations
(Reference: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017136634A1/en

1. Type A - regular and medium-duty

Chemicals Formulati Formulati Formulati Formulati Formulati Formulati
on -1 on-2 on-3 on-4 on-5 on-6
tetrahydrofur 0-19% 20-31 % 0- 17% - 1 1 -19% 15%
an
cyclohexano 21 -49% ; 21 -29% 23-47% 40-49% , 21-29% 25%
ne
methyl ethyl 7-21 % 0-14% 9-23% 7- 21 % 1 1-20% 16%
ketone
acetone 21 -36% 21-35% 23-34% 21 -36% 26-34% 30%
thermoplasti 8-15% 10-17% 10- 13% 8-15% 8- 15% 1 1.5 to
c resin(PVC about 12%
resin)
Silica(Sio2) 0.5-5% 1 -4% 1-4% 0.5-5% 0.5-5% 2 to about
2.5%
solvent 0.01 - 0.01 - 0.02-0.4% 0.01- 0.4% 0.01-0.08% 0.03%
soluble 0.4% 0.05% 000
acrylic
copolymer
associative
thickener(alk
yl esters of
acrylic acid
or
(meth)acryli
c acid )
regular-,
and
medium-
duty (1700
cP to
about
7000 cP
viscosity)
ASTM
D2564.

Characteristics:

• ASTM D2564
• regular-, and medium-duty
• 1700 cP to about 7000 cP viscosity
• Lap shear strength: 280 psi after two hours curing time,
• at least 500 psi after 16 hours curing time
• at least 950 psi after 72 hours curing time

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 1. Type B- regular heavy-duty
Chemicals
tetrahydrofuran 20-31% 23- 31 % 25-29% 27%
cyclohexanone 21 -29% 21 -29% 23-27% 25%
methyl ethyl 0-14% 0-5% 0-2% -
ketone
acetone 21-35% 27-35% 29-34% 31.5%
thermoplastic 10-17% 11 - 17% 12-16% 14%
resin
silica 1 -4% 1 -4% 2-3% 2.5%
solvent soluble 0.01 - 0.01- 0.02-0.04% 0.03%
acrylic 0.05% 0.05%
copolymer
associative
thickener

Characteristics:

• ASTM D2564
• heavy-duty
• at least 2500 cP to about 5000 cP. Viscosity
• next day viscosity at 140°F of at least 3000 cP.
• Lap shear : at least 320 psi after two hours curing time
at least 600 psi after 16 hours curing time
at least 1000 psi after 72 hours curing time

Other Components:
1. 5% by weight of at least one solid particulate inorganic filler. The particulate inorganic
fillers are inert and are generally included in the solvent cements to improve working
viscosity and structural strength, and to reduce production costs. The solid particulate
inorganic fillers are preferably fine powders having an average particle size of less
than about 50 microns and a density of less than about 4 g/mL.
EX- ground quartz, talc, magnesium silicate, calcium carbonate, clay, whiting, shell
flour, wood flour, alumina, antimony trioxide, asbestos powder, barium sulfate,
calcined clays, China clays, magnesium oxide, and mica powder.
2. Exemplary stabilizing agents - octyl tin maleate, methyltin, butyltin and octyltin;
dialkyltin dicarboxylates; methyltin mercaptides and butyltin mercaptides , complex
calcium and zinc soaps of alkyl carboxylic acids and hydrotalcite can also be used. -
about 0.05 to 3% by weight

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 Some Tested Formulations
Note : All the Formulations are as per ASTM D2564 requirements

1. Regular- and Medium- bodied solvent cement formulation

Characteristics:

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 2.Heavy-Bodied Formulations:

Characteristics:

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3 - Additional Medium-Bodied Formulations
MEK 11.0 11.0
CYH 45.0 45.0
ACE 30.5 30.5
PVC 11.5 11.5
THF - -
Silica 2.0 2.0
Solthix™ 250 0.04 0.06

Characteristics:

Where:
Fumed silica (Aerosil 200, Evonik)
Polyvinyl chloride resin (Vinnol H11/59, Wacker Chemie AG)
Thickener : methoxy propyl acetate or Slothix 250 (Lubrizol)

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 Other Formulations
• Procedure:

• Dissolve the PVC resin or CPVC resin prior to the addition of PMMI and ABS/Impact
Modifier in solvent using a high shear mixer. After all the resins are dissolved, the
thickening agent is added to the mixture.
• PMMA/PMMI resin, ABS resin and Thickening Agents, dissolved in MEK

• For PVC:
(In wt%)
Component Formulation - 1 Formulation- 2
PVC 13.5 13.5
PMMI - 4.3
PMMA 4.4
Grand Pacific ABS 2.9 2.8
MEK (2-Butanone) 77.3 77.5

Silica 1.9 2.1

Viscosity Enhancer 0.02 0.02
Viscosity (cp) 11700 13000

• For CPVC :
Component Formulation - 1 Formulation- 2 Formulation- 3 Formulation- 4
Stabilizer 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
CPVC 12.5 12.6 12.7 14.68
PMMI 3.9 3.9 3.9 4.52
ABS 2.9
toughening resin 2.9 2.9 3.4
Acetone purity 10.1
≧99.0%
Cyclohexanone purity 10.1 25
≧99.0%
MEK (2-Butanone) 68.35 69.85 59.65 52.25
purity ≧99.0%
MIAK (5-Methyl-2- 10 8.6
hexanone) purity
≧99.0%
Silica 2 2 0.5
Viscosity Enhancer 0.2
Viscosity (cp) 15000 15000 4600 3800

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Where:
• Partially imidized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMI) OR N-methyl
methacrylimide = PLEXIMID® TT70 or ACRYMID® TT70
• Toughening resin - acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), crosslinked
poly(butyl acrylate) core with a grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) =Paraloid
EXL™ 2330
• Thickener- in particular a hydrophilic fumed silica = AEROSIL® 200
• Viscosity enhancer - polyhydroxy carboxylic acid amides =BYK R605
-2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine =Quadrol®
• Stabilizer - one of methyltin, octyltin, mixed metal alkyltins, dialkyl tin di-
carboxylates, methyltin mercaptides, butyltin mercaptides, dialkyl tin
bis(alkylmercaptocarboxylate) including di-n-octyltin-S,S′-bis(isooctyl
mercaptoacetate), butylthiostannoic acid, and other ester tins =Mark 292

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 Market
• There are large numbers of players operating in the market. Organised players have a
strong hold in the market owing to their brand value, consistent product quality, and wider
distribution base. They are able to attract industrial customers as they are regarded as
experts in this field and are able to help the industrial buyers in choosing the correct
product for their applications.

• Unorganized players have limited distribution base and are more inclined towards
customers who are looking at low cost products. These manufactures target the lower
segment of the market where the demand volume is low and the end user is willing to
procure PVC solvent cement at least possible cost. The products of unorganized players
would not carry NSF certification and does not provide guarantee on the quality of the
sealant

• Urban areas : UPVC and CPVC

• Rural areas : PVC

Grades of Solvent Cement

Chemical Grade, Food Grade, Industrial Grade, Agriculture Grade

Big Players
1. HP International,
2. Astral Poly Technik Limited (Weld-on and Solvobond)
3. Neoseal
4. Finolex Industries Limited
5. Supreme Industries Limited
6. Ashirvad Pipes Private Limited
7. Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
8. SuperFix (Innomax Industries)
9. King
10. FIVIbond
11. Superweld

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 Indian Standards for PVC Solvent
Cement

https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S11/is.14182.1994.pdf

For Certification

https://bis.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/PM-IS-14182-cmd2.pdf

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