Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is a promising material candidate for sprinkler piping systems in seismic areas. CPVC samples were obtained from a pipe supplier and refabricated according to the dimensions in ASTM D638. Exposures were conducted in the Q-SUN xenon arc chamber with a window glass filter and a day light filter and also in QUV accelerated weathering tester. The Figure below is a graph from Q-Lab Products showing irradiance from different exposure methods.The left top corner in the figure lists the different exposure methods. The curves pertaining to a) Direct Sunlight, Noon Summer, b) Q-SUN Daylight-Q, c) Q-SUN Window-Q and d) QUV with UVB-313 are of interest in this study. Total energy exposed to the CPVC tensile specimens from QUV with UVB-313 lamps, Q-SUN xenon arc lamp used with a daylight filter and window glass filter in comparison with that of ASTM G177 sunlight over a period of 1 week, 4, 8, and 12 weeks was calculated. Energy levels used to expose the samples in the Q-SUN xenon arc chamber were 12 - 13 times greater than those used in the QUV accelerated weathering chamber. Literature shows that the shorter wavelengths in UVB light are more damaging. However, only minor tensile property changes were observed in the samples exposed to UVB light. A 70.4% reduction in the elongation at break was observed after 8 weeks of exposure in the Q-SUN xenon arc chamber with a daylight filter and a 67.7% reduction in the elongation at break was observed after 12 weeks with a window glass filter. Fourier Transform � Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis and preliminary Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis revealed considerable changes. Field aged CPVC pipes were also analyzed.

Degradation studies on CPVC sprinkler piping material in QSUN xenon arc chamber and QUV weathering chamber

248th National Meeting (2014)

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