Talk:Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride

Why is CPVC (vs. PVC) used for drinking water?
Could an expert add to the article some statement explaining why CPVC is sold for drinking water use whereas PVC is not? Robert K S 18:09, 4 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm probably not the world's foremost expert in this, but I have definitely seen PVC used for potable water. They tend to use the CPVC for extra fire retardancy in occupancies that are below a certain height, depending on the local building code. Plastic pipe has a big lobby of course. I know one thing, that when you run a fire test with plastic pipe, it does not matter whether it's CPVC or PVC, it makes ONE HELL OF A MESS. I find the use of plastic pipe morally reprehensible and indicative of character, but that's just my opinion based on decades in R & D and construction. I know test laboratories, where they would run such tests at night, so they would not get written up by the EPA with all the smoke..... --Achim (talk) 02:15, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

They don't use PVC in drinking water and it also should NOT be used because it is highly toxic and in some research is even related to cancer and other problems. PVC is sort of ok for drains, I use it for that. Other than that it's only other safe uses are chemical distribution that doesn't involve and human consumption, and also for potato guns. (oh ya, it's great for that, lol) Preservefreedom (talk) 05:35, 7 November 2008 (UTC)
 * This is an absurd comment. PVC is an inert, nonionic, high-molecular weight polymer, and as such has absolutely ZERO toxicity. It is far too large for transport into cells and hence cannot possibly bioaccumulate. You are confusing concerns about vinyl chloride monomer with the polymer itself. It can be and is used for drinking water supply lines. -24.13.161.220 (talk) 19:06, 19 March 2011 (UTC)
 * That is false. PVC was known to be toxic as far back as they 1960s, why it's no longer used in drinking water pipes, only CPVC. Which itself is turning out to be toxic, see recent discussions below. --  Green  C  02:25, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Agreed. PVC is the only material specified for C900 pipe, the common plastic pipe used for municipal water system mains. For larger than 12 inch water supply pipe, spec C905 includes CPVC plastic as well as PVC. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fubartu (talk • contribs) 23:38, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

CPVC has higher heat resistance than PVC, so can handle hot water, PVC cannot. PVC breaks down thermally under direct sunlight for example, and releases highly toxic substances in small amounts. That is not why it isn't used. CPVC is preferred because it has higher structural integrity when it heats up, able to handle hot water, but probably not boiling water.174.112.235.221 (talk) 08:36, 22 March 2015 (UTC)

Production figure
What's up with the production figure? There's no way anyone knows that exactly how much has been produced, and the term "fiscal year" is rather variable. The figure isn't even cited. If a reference and better explanation can't be produced, I move that this be deleted. 65.0.199.156 (talk) 21:57, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

Details of PVC thermal properties
i want to know the details of PVC thermal properties specially the different test to carryout the thermal stability of PVC resin. What is the difference in all the tests ? Chemical reaction of all the tests & also the thermal stability valuses & details of all test parameter & processing temp of pvc resin. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 116.74.108.234 (talk) 06:16, 19 July 2009 (UTC)

Math to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
Please read the article in context before correcting temperature conversion math. If it talks of a temperature differential, you do not add 32; you only do that for an absolute temperature reference. So if something it 5 degrees C higher, it's the same as 9 degrees F higher, not 41 degrees F higher. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.188.187.72 (talk) 00:58, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

CPVC is unsafe
Major new report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eda91260bbb7e7a4bf528d8/t/643d5083304eae5c7037a3c8/1681739910507/BeyondPlastics-PVCReport-Web.pdf

Our article has nothing about the 50+ toxic chemicals released by CPVC into drinking water that are hormone disrupters, cancer causing, neuro damaging etc.. -- Green  C  23:42, 19 April 2023 (UTC)


 * Safety is fair topic to address, but I'd like a more neutral/reliable source. MartinezMD (talk) 15:47, 20 April 2023 (UTC)
 * A university-based organization led by former EPA head with tons of science papers cited. And it's not new in Europe. Scientific America article has previous studies. -- Green  C  02:15, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Could someone add details of the chlorination process
I assume the new chlorine replaces some hydrogen atoms, but I don't know. The problem is partly that PVC already has chlorine. A sample image of what PVC and CPVC look like on the molecular level might help, Will (Talk - contribs) 12:52, 14 January 2024 (UTC)