What is Solvent Cement?
The most important thing to know about solvent cementis that it’s not glue. Solvent cement is made up of CPVC resin, stabilizers and fillers dissolved in a cocktail of solvents. These solvents serve two purposes:
- Dissolve the CPVC resin.
- Prepare the surface of the pipe and fitting.
When applied, the solvents soften and dissolve the top layer of the pipe and fitting material, loosening its molecular structure. A taper in the fitting socket creates an interference fit that ensures contact between the pipe and fitting. This allows the material to fuse to itself when the two pieces are connected. The CPVC resin is present to fill in any gaps that may exist.
Because this fusion occurs at the molecular level, when the solvent evaporates, the joint actually becomes one uniform piece.
Solvent cement also contains stabilizers that maintain solvent properties and extend its shelf life. Specifically, these stabilizers help protect the solvent cement against heat and oxidation, which can degrade the solution.
Why Is It The Preferred Joining Mechanism for CPVC Piping?
The reason Corzan® Industrial Systems often recommends solvent cement is because it is a fast, easy and incredibly reliable joining method. Solvent cement fuses the CPVC material together, creating one uniformly bonded piece of thermoplastic.
These fused joints also help the system maintain its life expectancy, heat distortion temperature, pressure rating, chemical resistance and safety qualities.
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