The Third International Conference on Structure, Processing and Properties of Materials, SPPM2010

24-26 February 2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh, SPPM2010 E17

Characterization of uPVC Pipes

M.M. Billah, A.A. Sharif, T. Rahman, R. Qadir, U. K. Sultana and Q. Ahsan
Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology,
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract
Fillers are used in uPVC pipes to increase the initial strength. But it decreases the long-term strength as their
concentration increases. Determination of filler content is essential for characterization and improvement of
uPVC pipes. In this study relative amount of filler content in uPVC pipe was determined using
thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Effect of filler content on the mechanical properties of uPVC pipes were
also studied. In order to assess the quality of uPVC pipe FTIR, DSC, TGA etc. tests were also performed. It
was clearly observed that the improvement in mechanical strength and other physical properties of uPVC pipes
are obtained by the controlled addition of filler.
Keywords: Filler, characterization, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile properties

1. INTRODUCTION
Unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride, commonly known as uPVC, is a polymer of Vinyl Chloride. It has a linear
structure. uPVC is widely used throughout the world for making plumbing pipes. The constituents of uPVC
pipes include filler materials, stabilizers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, lubricants, processing aids etc. Among
these constituents, filler content varies over a wide range in commercial production as well as the quality of the
product. Excess filler content decreases the long-term strength of the product. So, controlled addition of filler
content is essential to assure the quality of the product. The amounts of moisture, volatile materials,
unexpected organic constituents are determinant factors of product quality and service performance. Excess
moisture and volatile material content often lead to pipe failure by blistering and delamination. Unexpected
organic compounds may have malicious effect on mechanical properties.

This work involved determination of relative amount of filler content in uPVC. Presence of moisture and volatile
materials was investigated. Different mechanical properties i.e. tensile properties, impact properties were
determined. Effects of filler content, presence of moisture and volatile materials on mechanical properties were
investigated. Service performances i.e. water absorption and extent of swelling were also observed.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Uniform mechanical properties particularly strength is dependent on uniform diameter and thickness of the
pipes. Thickness variation was measured using digital slide calipers. Apart from this, length and periphery were
also determined.
For acetone test, samples of 100 mm were taken. Acetone for laboratory use was taken in a beaker, and the
samples were immersed to 25 mm in the acetone. They were kept there for 2 hours before taking out and
observing whether there was any delamination, disintegration or swelling. Samples of known weight were
taken for water absorption, hot water and steam test. For water absorption test, the samples were kept in water
for 96 hours. Samples were weighed at the end of that period to find out whether any water was absorbed or
not. Swelling effect was also observed in regular intervals. For hot water test the samples were kept in the hot
water of 90°C for 100 minutes. Similarly weighing was done after the test period together with swelling
observation .For steam test, steam was produced in steam chamber and the samples were exposed to steam
for 45 minutes. After the exposure, surface condition was observed and weight gain was determined.
Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was done with powdered samples. FTIR results were
analyzed to find out the constituents with their amount as percentage of the total weight. Powdered samples
were also used for Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). DSC was
carried out to determine the presence of moisture and other volatile materials. Melting point and any
decomposition were also determined by observing exothermic and endothermic peaks. Relative amount of filler
content was determined from TGA result.

Tensile properties were measured by carrying out the tensile test of specific geometry with Universal Testing
Machine (UTM). In Hydrostatic test, for every pipe sample an assembly was made into which hydrostatic
pressure was applied and pressure was measured from the gauge in 5 seconds intervals up to failure. Impact
energy was applied to all the samples by means of a metallic mandrel. For Drop Impact test the size of the
mandrel were varied depending on the diameter of the pipes. The results gave an idea about the relative
impact strength of the samples. Finally Heat Reversion test was done to find out the presence of moisture and
volatile materials.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Thickness was observed which varied along the length and periphery over several millimeter range (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Wall thickness variation of uPVC pipes

In water absorption test, acetone test, hot water test and steam test few samples were observed to gain weight
and swelling was observed in acetone test (Figure 2). Presence of Aromatic hydrocarbon resin, Poly
(butadiene + naphthenic oil), Poly (butadiene acrylonitrile), which were determined from FTIR result, might
have resulted in such swelling effect. FTIR result showed the constituents to vary over a wide range of
percentages (Table 1). Main constituent (Poly Vinyl chloride) was found to vary over a wide range of
percentage (22.50-51.32). Unexpected elements were also found to be present. These variations also caused
variations in different physical and mechanical properties.
 Table 1. Ingredient compounds of uPVC

Figure 2. Swelling effect

0
Several endotherms in DSC around 100 C indicated presence of water and volatile compounds. Their
presence was also revealed in Heat Reversion test in which blistering (Figure 3) and delamination (Figure 4)
were observed.

Figure 3. Blistering effect Figure 4. delamination

Residue percentage in TGA was found to increase with the increase in dehydrochlorination temperature and to
decrease with decrease in dehydrochlorination temperature (Figure 5). It is known that dehydrochlorination
temperature increases with increased filler content. So, residue percentage in TGA (Table 2) indicated the
relative amount of filler content. Tensile properties were found to deteriorate with increasing filler content and
so was the impact strength. Deteriorating effect of filler content on tensile strength was clearly visible (figure 6).
In Hydrostatic test, maximum permissible pressure was found to decrease with increasing filler content (Figure
7). Pipes with higher filler content were found to fail in impact test and they also collapsed in Heat Reversion
test (Table 2).

Table 2. Filler contents and related mechanical properties

Sample %wt Dehydro- Tensile Drop Collapse in Blistering

no residue chlorination Strength Impact heat reversion Effect
(filler temp (OC) (Mpa) test test
content)

1 62 292.02 18.18 failed Yes Less

2 44 279.87 26.60 failed Yes Less

3 67 298.10 15.86 failed Yes Severe

4 64 281.14 26.52 failed Yes Severe

5 30 282.91 35.83 Ok(4/42) No No

6 47 285.94 19.68 failed Yes Severe

7 63 290.50 15.73 failed Yes Severe

8 67 298.86 15.16 failed Yes Less

9 54 285.94 21.78 failed Yes Severe

10 41 282.70 27.36 OK(0/10) No No

11 41 281.40 29.71 OK(0/10) No No

 Figure 5. Relationship between filler content Figure 6. Relationship between filler
and dehydrochlorination temperature content and tensile strength
   

 
Figure 7. Relationship between filler
content and hydrostatic pressure

TGA curves (Figure 8) show how dehydrochlorination temperature shifts to higher temperature with increasing
weight residual i.e. filler content. From DSC curves (Figure 9) several endothermic peaks were found.
Endothermic peaks were found in the range of 90-110OC for volatile constituents. In addition to these peaks
O
some samples showed endothermic peaks at around 60 C. Blistering effect was severe in these samples
which had endothermic peaks at both around 60 C and 100OC. .
O

Table 3. TGA data

st
Sample 1 Peak 2nd Peak Weight loss Weight loss
Temp Temp 1st Peak, % 2nd Peak, %
0 0
( C) ( C)
1 292.02 447.77 25 38
2 279.87 447.77 35 56
3 298.10 439.42 20 33
4 281.14 447.19 33 36
5 182.91 440.94 45 70
6 285.94 450.81 34 53
7 290.50 439.42 32 37
8 298.86 438.66 20 33
9 285.94 449.29 32 46
10 282.70 443.97 37 59
11 281.40 445.49 37 59
Table 4. DSC data

1st Peak 2nd Peak 3rd Peak 4th Peak Nature Nature Nature Nature
Sample Temp Temp Temp Temp of 1st of 2nd of 3rd of 4th
(0C) (0C) (0C) (0C) Peak Peak Peak Peak

1  ‐  91.42  109.55  251.67  ‐  endo  endo  exo 

2  ‐  90.16  108.77  259.35  ‐  endo  endo  exo 
3  60.98  90.16  107.50  273.73  endo  endo  endo  exo 
4  59.29  88.89  107.93  262.74  endo  endo  endo  exo 
5  ‐  90.98  115.96  261.89  ‐  endo  endo  exo 
6  61.40  86.78  110.46  266.97  endo  endo  endo  exo 
7  33.06  87.80  128.65  258.08  endo  endo  endo  exo 
8  ‐  76.20  105.39  287.69  ‐  endo  endo  exo 
9  58.44  90.59  110.46  276.46  endo  endo  endo  exo 
10  ‐  59.29  109.62  244.55  ‐  endo  endo  exo 
11  ‐  90.45  110.04  264.00  ‐  endo  endo  Exo 

Figure 8. TGA Curve

 Figure 9. DSC Curve

4. CONCLUSION

It is clearly observed that the improvement in mechanical strength and other physical properties of uPVC pipes
are obtained by the controlled addition of filler. During processing presence of moisture and volatile
compounds must be kept as low as possible. To assure the quality, ingredients must be avoided which were
unexpectedly found in FTIR results.