PVC and lasers.

[Mark Ward]

I'm correct in thinking the plastic covers on acrylic have PVC in them?

[Robert Walters]

I'm correct in thinking the plastic covers on acrylic have PVC in them?

Acrylite®FF datasheet states polyethylene film or paper masking.

http://www.acrylite.net/sites/dc/Dow...-machining.pdf

[Larry Bratton]

Mostly the extruded variety will have a polyethylene mask, Safe in machine as far as I know. Buy cast and it normally has paper.

I'm correct in thinking the plastic covers on acrylic have PVC in them?

[Dan Kozakewycz]

Foam board is made from PVC?

Better not cut any of the stuff I've just ordered in then, sounds like a surefire way to kill the new machine!

[David Somers]

Dan,

Foam board is typically available in two flavors. PVC and Polyurethane. Obviously the PVC is nastiness personified when cut with a laser. Polyu is fairly benign. Whatever you ordered, check the MSDS that comes with it, or get one from the manufacturer before you lase it to be sure.

Dave

[Michael Hunter]

Polyu is fairly benign.

Nope! 'Fraid not!

From a random polyurethane foam MSDS :

Hazardous Decomposition Products:
Combustion may generate carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, aldehydes, organic acids, hydrocarbons, hydrogen cyanide, dense smoke, irritating and toxic fumes.


You definitely need a really good exhaust system if you are lasering this stuff.

[John Bion]

And Dave's "Help Wanted" Sign is permanently mounted to the front window

OT: For about the first 6 months of my owning a laser, I had a sign something along the lines of: “Dave’s help wanted” permanently stuck on my shop window (and he obliged! )
Kind Regards, John

[Dave Sheldrake]

OT: For about the first 6 months of my owning a laser, I had a sign something along the lines of: “Dave’s help wanted” permanently stuck on my shop window (and he obliged! )
Kind Regards, John

more than welcome my friend be good to meet up once things slow down a bit

cheers

Dave

[Dan Kozakewycz]

Supplier has noted it as being a polystyrene core, CFC free.

Should be OK? I have one of those mega expensive BOFA filters if that makes a difference.

[Robert Walters]

Supplier has noted it as being a polystyrene core, CFC free.

Should be OK? I have one of those mega expensive BOFA filters if that makes a difference.

Styrofoam™ cups are EPS (expanded polystyrene)
If you ever question a material, always ask for a MSDS before purchasing/fabricating.

If you're ever brought something to fabricate, you may be able to look for a recycling symbol.
A triangle with a 3 in it and a 'V' below it is PVC.
http://naturalsociety.com/recycling-...ttles-meaning/


It's the 'CHLOR' and perhaps 'FLUOR' you want to look out for in materials, as in:
Polyvinyl CHLORide (PVC), CHLORine bleach,
PolytetraFLUORoethylene, PTFE, Teflon™.


I've come across floral foam blocks containing formaldehyde.
MDF contains urea-formaldehyde.

Toxic Substances Portal - Formaldehyde
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=219&tid=39


TESTING FOR PVC

"Take a copper wire, heat it up and touch the plastic. Then take the copper wire with the plastic residue into a flame. In the case of PVC you should see green color in the flame because copper chlorides are relatively volatile under such conditions. You even don't need a spectrometer. This is a classical method for detecting organic chlorine."

Quoted from: http://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_...sh_PVC_and_ABS