[SML] PVC socket cap

[Paul G.]

 <<BTW, on using air in PVC, an old warning on that mentions that PVC
splinters when it breaks and PVC doesn't show up in X-rays so if you get
impaled with a splinter the Dr. won't know where it is. >>

As I recall, I read that PVC should not be used in pressurized gas projects like air tanks due to the fact that the material expands slightly when it is pressurized to a certain pressure and remains slightly expanded (and work hardened to a degree) when the pressure is released. After repetition, the PVC reaches the point where it is so hardened that, with the next expansion, it fails and explodes. ABS remains elastic.

So I read.

And it was on the internet. So there.

War story... (well, war anecdote)

While filling a new 18" long shop made air tank made from new PVC 4" pipe for under platform pancake air cylinders, the end cap exploded, sending several huge wicked sharp shards flying. Scared the bejeezuz out of my assistant who was doing the inflating. (Me too a bit, truth be told.) The failure happened through bothe the pipe and the side of the end cap... around 1/2" of material. The truly frightening thing was that it exploded at only around 8 psi. I never used PVC as an air system again.

As they say "Just sayin' ".

Laters,

Paul 1