01-22-2004, 02:45 PM
Polyethylene is an older plastic than PVC and has been replaced by PVC for many uses.
Polyethylene, in its high and low density versions, are numbers 2 and 4 in the plastic recyling code and are used for things like milk and detergent bottles, buckets, home storage containers, water storage tanks, frozen food bags, toy parts, and special water pipes. A special type, newer polyethylene, PETE or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is used for soft drink and beer bottles and is #1 in the recyling code.
PVC is #3 in the recycling code and is used for things like medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, house siding, and like you said, water piping.
To me, most polyethylene feels slicker or "greasier" than PVC.
In plumbing, polyethylene pipe or polyethylene lined pipe is used to carry high purity water like chemical laboratory distilled water because plasticizers from PVC pipe and metal from metal piping, unless tin-lined, continually leach (practically forever) and contaminate high purity water.
Evidence and concern is starting to accumulate that these PVC plasticizers may be toxic to animals -- humans included. The PVC plasticizers have definitely been found toxic to people working in PVC manufacturing plants, including PVC water pipe manufacturing, causing an abnormally high cancer rate in those persons exposed in those plants. PVC wire and cable insulation and probably PVC water piping, to a lesser degree, are major causes of toxic fumes when modern, high-rise office buildings catch fire.
I personally have avoided any PVC piping in my house, even though its quality of lasting nearly forever has been highly inviting.
I think most plastic lures are now made from PVC or polystyrene (code #6).
That, and the fact polyethylene can't be glued with any glue I've tried, is about all this retired 30+ year director of a chemical/biological analytical laboratory knows on the subject. I obviously don't have all the practical experience with PVC piping you have.
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Polyethylene, in its high and low density versions, are numbers 2 and 4 in the plastic recyling code and are used for things like milk and detergent bottles, buckets, home storage containers, water storage tanks, frozen food bags, toy parts, and special water pipes. A special type, newer polyethylene, PETE or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is used for soft drink and beer bottles and is #1 in the recyling code.
PVC is #3 in the recycling code and is used for things like medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, house siding, and like you said, water piping.
To me, most polyethylene feels slicker or "greasier" than PVC.
In plumbing, polyethylene pipe or polyethylene lined pipe is used to carry high purity water like chemical laboratory distilled water because plasticizers from PVC pipe and metal from metal piping, unless tin-lined, continually leach (practically forever) and contaminate high purity water.
Evidence and concern is starting to accumulate that these PVC plasticizers may be toxic to animals -- humans included. The PVC plasticizers have definitely been found toxic to people working in PVC manufacturing plants, including PVC water pipe manufacturing, causing an abnormally high cancer rate in those persons exposed in those plants. PVC wire and cable insulation and probably PVC water piping, to a lesser degree, are major causes of toxic fumes when modern, high-rise office buildings catch fire.
I personally have avoided any PVC piping in my house, even though its quality of lasting nearly forever has been highly inviting.
I think most plastic lures are now made from PVC or polystyrene (code #6).
That, and the fact polyethylene can't be glued with any glue I've tried, is about all this retired 30+ year director of a chemical/biological analytical laboratory knows on the subject. I obviously don't have all the practical experience with PVC piping you have.
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