How do you bend the Harvel Clear PVC pipe?

Bending clear PVC pipe may be desirable under certain conditions where long radius bends and unusual configurations are required. Various sizes and wall thicknesses of rigid PVC pipe have been successfully heat-formed for many years, not numerous angles, long radius sweeps for conduit and flow conditions, U-bends for thermal compensation, and offsets in congested areas.

The following information is provided as a general guide for a better understanding of heat bending techniques commonly used in the field. It does not attempt to address specialized shop fabrication methods or procedures.

Successful bending requires that the appropriate heat be applied uniformly to the required length of pipe to be bent. This presents the greatest challenge for field bending, as the heating methods must provide the necessary amount of heat over the required length of pipe in a reasonable amount of time. Several common pipe-heating methods involve hot air ovens, electric box heaters, electric pipe-heating blankets, and flameless hot gas torches. The temperature necessary to heat the pipe depends on pipe size and the severity f the desired bend radius. In general, PVC pipe should be heated from 225°F to 275° F for the minimum necessary time to achieve uniform softening. Care should be taken to avoid exposing the pipe to bending temperatures for an excessive time, as irreparable distortion and deformation will occur. Localized overheating must be avoided. Successful minor bends (<30°) can be achieved with minimum distortion in the lower temperature range (225° F) without internal support. Sharp bends (>30°) require higher temperatures (250°-275°F) as well as internal support to prevent wall distortion/collapse.

Common methods used to provide internal support to the pipe during the bending process include using a filling medium such as sand or perlite (cat litter), inserting coiled springs in the pipe, or some cases, providing internal pressure. Filling the pipe with fine grain sand or perlite before heating furnishes the internal support necessary to prevent collapse while at the same time providing an excellent medium for uniform heat distribution during the heating process.

The filling medium used should be packed tightly into the pipe to achieve the desired bend radius with minimum distortion.

During the process, the pipe ends are capped or plugged, and the filling medium is compacted as much as possible to remove any air pockets before heating. Once the bend is formed and cooled, the sand is emptied from the pipe, and any remaining particles can be easily removed by rinsing with water.

To provide fabrication consistency in the field, standard pipe bending forms which provide the required radius are sized (grooved) for the proper diameter and can be used to bend plastic pipe. Plywood jigs constructed on-site have also been used successfully in many applications. The minimum bend radius at the bend should not be less than five times the pipe outside diameter to prevent flattening. Due to the recovery characteristics of the material, the pipe should be bent slightly beyond the desired radius and allowed to spring back to the required angle once uniformly heated at the correct temperature. When the bend is obtained, the pipe should be held in place and cooled quickly using a wet sponge or other water application.

It should be noted that most bending procedures will induce stress into the wall, which can be retained in the material after the bend radius is formed. The amount of stress induced depends on the bend's severity, the diameter and wall thickness of the pipe bent, and the bending method used. This residual stress will be added to the normal stresses created by internal pressure, installation procedures, and the effects of temperature. Therefore, pipe bending should be limited to applications at ambient or lower temperatures where maximum operating pressures are not utilized. It should also be noted that during the bending process of clear PVC pipe, the material will become cloudy during the heating process but will regain clarity when cooled, provided excessive bending stresses are not retained. Using a filling medium during the bending process can also cause slight pitting and other interior surface blemishes, depending on the method used.

Attempting to form bends in rigid thermoplastic piping at temperatures too low (below 200° F) can induce excessive stress into the pipe, jeopardizing its physical performance.