Pvc

[mike wallis]

I was wondering if there is a easy way to tell if there is the "Laser deadly" PVC in a materal. I got some clear Acrilic for Lowes and wanted to be sure that it didn't contain any PVC.

Thanks for any info,
Mike

[Dennis Peacock]

Huh? Laser deadly PVC? Please enlighten me a little more.

[mike wallis]

Hi Dennis,
Although I don't know the effects it has on the machine, i've read many times that PVC is a big no no for lasers. Not only will it harm the machine there's also the health issues.

Mike

"Woords of wizdom hire"

[Dennis Peacock]

Gotcha Mike. I understand your question better now. Sorry for the million questions.

[Keith Outten]

When PVC materials burn they give off a deadly gas that also happens to be corrosive. Engraving PVC will void your warranty and in a short period of time eat the metalic components.

Mike, I wish I knew the answer to your question. I have taken great care to obtain all my engraving materials from suppliers who can prove to me the exact material makeup. Most of the time you can ask that Material Data Sheets be provided.

[Mark Dickens]

As I understand it, when you burn PVC, it gives off chlorine gas, which when combined with moisture creates HCl, otherwise known as hydrochloric acid...Also since chlorine is in its own right poisonous, you have a double threat...I'm not a chemist, but I did stay at the Holiday Inn Express last night

Mark

[Dave Fifield]

Just digging up an old thread here....trying to get to the truth.

In J.Steven Spencer's video "Laser Engraving", he warns that PVC will give off cyanide gas. The above says chlorine gas. Which is right? Either is bad, of course.

My money is on chlorine gas, since PVC stands for poly-vinyl chloride.

Dave F.

[James A. Wolfe]

PVC, when heated, releases chlorine gas which readily combines with water vapor to produce Hydrogen Chloride, commonly referred to as Hydrochloric acid gas. Both toxic and corrosive, it has no place inside your workshop or your laser. Another, potentially more dangerous byproduct of chlorine gas liberation is its tendency to form dioxens which are quite toxic and very persistant. PVC may be the greatest ecological threat currently being addressed by a number of regulatory agencies. Putting away soapbox, Jim

[Dave Fifield]

Thanks Jim. I'm not going near the stuff. I'm going to buy my acrylic from a reputable source only (TAP Plastics probably).

Cheers,
Dave F.

[Cecil Arnold]

Dave, I think there is a difference in acrylic and PVC, you might want to do a google search on both to get some idea of the chemical makeup of each. The monomers of PVC are carcinogenic at very low levels (about 50 ppm if memory serves) so James is entirely correct, it has no place near your laser.

[Lee DeRaud]

I'm going to buy my acrylic from a reputable source only (TAP Plastics probably).

(shrug) Acrylic is acrylic, whether it comes from a specialty supplier or the borg. PVC is a completely different compound.

[Joe Pelonio]

(shrug) Acrylic is acrylic, whether it comes from a specialty supplier or the borg. PVC is a completely different compound.

I'm a big fan of Tap but Lee is right, you can by acrylic wherever you want and not worry. With other plastics the best thing is to get by e-mail (written evidence) an OK from your laser tech people, on things like polycarbonate, ABS, nylon, polystyrene, polyester etc. PVC which may be called Sintra, Komatex, Kydex etc. clearly must not go in the laser, but some other materials including vinyls may also contain some percentage of PVC, so we need to get MSDS on it and/or contact the manufacturer before using.

[Dave Fifield]

Thanks all. I'll proceed with caution. I have some art project ideas that incorporate flourescent acrylic (and wood, of course!).

I have my laser indoors and was venting the fumes outside via a 6" muffin fan in a box then through the wall using a tumble drier vent kit. It was a nice quiet setup, but wasn't moving enough air for my liking. There was too much smell hanging around the room.

Last evening, I received my new blower unit in the mail. I think I may have gone to the other extreme. This thing blasts 914cfm and roars!! Methinks it's going to have to go outside in a soundproofed box.....

Back to work - I'm in the middle of engraving 60 wine glasses for a corporate Christmas party next weekend.

Cheers,
Dave F.

[Joe Pelonio]

Wow, that's power. Mines about half that. Don't stand in front of the exhaust it might knock you over.

[Michael McDuffie]

Since I'm running a 1500CFM 2HP blower on my Epilog, I figured "I'm pulling enough air to run a few vinyl items in my machine". It will pull items off the table and out to the garage.

The "V" in PVC is for vinyl as in Poly Vinyl Chloride.

I am NOT pulliing enough air to run vinyl.

I had a 6" machinists rule that I kept in the cabinet. It cannot be read any longer.

So far no damage to optics but anything made of unprotected steel is trashed.

DO NOT run vinyl and it's cousins.

Michael