Ask A Scientist

Materials Science Archive

Deposits on PVC Pipe

6/22/2005


name         Martin
status       other
grade        other
location     N/A

Question -   Why are calcium carbonate encrustants minimal on the
inside walls of PVC tubes?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) pipe has a very smooth hydrophobic surface so
there are not very many sites on the surface for the calcium carbonate
deposits to adhere. In contrast, metal pipes have many rough water-loving
sites for the deposits to grow.

Vince Calder
====================================================================

Back to Materials Science	Ask A Scientist Index
NEWTON Homepage	Ask A Question

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators.
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.