Weathering Effects on the Fracture Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride Pipes

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were weathered naturally for periods of up to two years. The effect of weathering on the mechanical properties was investigated by compressing unnotched and radially notched ring specimens in a parallel-plate test. Disregarding the scatter existing among the test results, the general trend indicates deteriorating fracture properties due to exposure. The application of fracture mechanics concepts, explicitly the J-integral value, to the test results helps to reveal the susceptibility of weathered PVC pipe material to brittle fracture compared to its as-received condition.