PVC Solvent- What is it and how do I use it?
A PVC solvent or plastic solvent is one that can dissolve or soften PVC plastic, as opposed to one which can melt it into liquid form.
The main reason to use such a product would be to remove residue and make the surface of the plastic cleaner and smoother before applying paint, glue, etc.
The most common PVC solvent products are made from propylene glycol (PG) but there are also other variations that use other solvents such as acetone and butyl acetate.
PVC solvent Benefits
PVC solvent is used to dissolve PVC, CPVC, PE pipes or tubes.
Types of PVC Solvent
There are two kinds of PVC solvent:
- One that uses chlorinated solvents (tetrachloroethylene), commonly called tetrachloroethylene (TCE) for dissolving other plastics.
- And one that uses non-chlorinated solvents (trichloroethylene) for dissolving PVC, CPVC, PE pipes or tubes.
Pros of using PVC solvent
There are many other uses for PVC solvent beyond construction applications, such as home repair and remodelling projects. In addition to its usefulness as a resourceful material when prepping surfaces for paint or sealants. PVC solvent can also prove helpful when removing paints from rugs.
There are many purposes you can make good use of PVC solvent, from cleaning tools to cleaning surfaces in your household. And because PVC solvent is consider to be nonflammable, you don’t have to worry about explosions or fires; simply store it in a safe area that won’t easily catch fire.