Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipes have existed since the mid-20th century, but pipelines are not the only use for PVC. It can be formed in furniture, doors, cladding, and many other building materials. A close cousin, uPVC, makes an even better building material, and uPVC tubing has many advantages over PVC tubing.
There is only one difference between PVC and UPVC, and it is that PVC contains BPA and phthalates, which are two plasticizers that make it more flexible. The “u ” in uPVC means “unplasticized, ” And because it does not have these additional materials, uPVC is often called rigid plastic.
In much of the world, except in the United States, uPVC is more widely used for water pipes than PVC. The extra materials offer superior resistance to chemical erosion. Their smooth interior walls allow water to flow more smoothly with less turbulence. uPVC is also resistant to a wider range of temperatures than PVC.
In the United States, PVC is the plastic of choice for sewer pipes and water transport water. However, neither PVC nor uPVC is suitable for residential water pipes. This function is accomplished by CPVC or chlorate poliviniltil chloride.
PVC contra CPVC for plumbing pipes
As uPVC, CPVC is a close PVC cousin. The three products are thermoplastic, but while uPVC is PVC which the omission of Plasticizers has altered, CPVC has been altered by a free radical chlorination reaction that increases its chlorine content. This simple mod makes CPVC capable of withstanding higher temperatures.
PVC is rated for use at temperatures up to 140 °f, while CPVC is rated as high as 200 °f. This makes CPVC more suitable for hot water systems than PVC and is the standard for residential water systems In general. Accordingly, you can buy CPVC pipes manufactured according to the copper Pipe for adding to copper plumbing systems. On the other hand, PVC is available only in the nominal size of the pipe, which is the same as the galvanized steel tube.
When it comes to buying CPVC against PVC, you can distinguish both by their colors. CPVC Pipes and fittings are cream-colored, while PVC tubes and fittings are white. The two materials require different types of cement and solvents and should not be used together.
uPVC is a rigid PVC
Because of its rigidity, uPVC is a better building material than PVC. When you buy PVC flooring boards, handrails, or cladding material, you are buying the products made of uPVC, not PVC. Some sewage systems in the United States are made of uPVC pipe, but few water systems are made.
The chemicals that make PVC more flexible and remain outside of uPVC are BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates. None of these are highly toxic, but it is not completely non-toxic either. BPA is toxic only at very high concentrations, while certain phthalates, such as Di (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate, are an endocrine inhibitor and can cause cancer. Despite this, many consumer products, including children’s toys, are made with phthalates.
The toxicity of plasticizers may be reduced, but PVC pipes are not undesirable to transport residential water to drink. If you find them used around the house, they are outside the transportation of used water gardening and landscaping. When you see plastic pipes and small components in the dental doctor or clinics, they are usually made of uPVC, not PVC, and mildly toxic plasticizers in PVC are the reason.
