PVC is a very difficult plastic material to work with because it has a very “narrow processing window”. What this means is that it must be extruded and molded to make pipes and fittings at the right temperature or it is no good. If PVC is heated too hot, it degrades and gives off hydrochloric acid becoming brittle. If not heated hot enough, the PVC does not fuse and the pipe is weak and has very poor chemical resistance. We determine if PVC pipe is defective using a series of tests including ductility testing, impact strength testing, and thermal analysis to determine at what temperature the pipe was extruded and if the wall of the pipe is properly fused.
Can You Determine if PVC Pipe is Defective?