AWWA JAW18146

The transport properties of representative organic solvents at a wide range of concentrations in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) powders, films, and sheets have been studied by gravimetric sorption methods to assess the possibility of organic pollutants permeating through underground PVC pipe. The rate of penetration changes by many orders of magnitude as the concentration, or activity, of solvent in the environment is varied. Softening and significant permeation of PVC pipe seems possible only in the presence of nearly undiluted solvents or swelling agents for PVC. At lower activities, which still correspond to unusually high levels of environmental pollution, solvent transport follows ideal Fickian diffusion kinetics. Thus reliable extrapolations to pipe walls are possible from laboratory data on PVC powders and films. The calculated permeation rates are virtually zero for many centuries, indicating that rigid PVC pipe is an effective barrier against permeation of environmental pollutants. Includes 13 references, table, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. 77 - No. 11

Published:

11/01/1985

Number of Pages:

8

File Size:

1 file , 1.7 MB