Many people think that PVC is a thermosetting plastic, but it’s actually a thermoplastic. What does that mean?

When heated, thermoplastics can be remodeled without causing chemical change.

On the other hand, thermosetting plastics such as silicone can be heated but when they take a certain form, they’re set for good.

pvc

How is Polymers pvc made?

We could go through the super scientific jargon of how PVC is made, but this isn’t the type of science class where your eyes glaze over and you start daydreaming about lunch so we’ll try to keep it fun.

Basically, manufacturing PVC happens in three stages.

First, we combine chlorine (from sea salt) and ethylene (from natural gas or oils) to form ethylene dichloride. Second, we heat the s*** out of that compound in an environment with no oxygen.

This heating is called pyrolysis and it forms the vinyl chloride monomer.

Poly means many, so we essentially smush a bunch of the vinyl chloride monomers together with a process called polymerization to form a polyvinyl chloride polymer (PVC).

Key properties and characteristics of

Polymers pvc

PVC possesses unique properties that make it suitable for many uses.

The properties of PVC include:

1. High density: The density of PVC is 1.38 g/cm3.
2. Low cost: Economically friendly and affordable.
3. Good durability: PVC can last up to 40 years.
4. High strength: High tensile strength (2.6 N/mm2) meaning it takes a lot of force to stretch it out and break it.
5. Excellent electric insulator: PVC doesn’t conduct electricity, making it great for electrical insulation.
6. Fire-retardant: When PVC catches fire, it slowly extinguishes the fire because it contains chlorine and low oxygen content which combined, isn’t good for fire.

Now, let’s explore its benefits.

Benefits of PVC plastic

Lauded for its versatility, there are a lot of good things to say about PVC. These are some of the main ones.

Relatively inexpensive and widely available

With a solid cost to performance ratio, PVC is a great choice economically. In piping, PVC is often chosen over more expensive materials like copper because it does an equally good job for a fraction of the cost.

It’s also easily available and widely produced because it’s so inexpensive to manufacture.

Durable

PVC is lightweight but long-lasting. The average PVC pipe can last about 35 years.

It’s resistant to shock, corrosion, and weather aging. It’s very lightweight, making for excellent use in construction, packaging, and cabling.

High tensile strength

Tensile strength is the ability to stay intact when being pulled in opposite directions.

Because of the strong bonds found in the chemical structure of PVC, it doesn’t break easily. The breakage rate of PVC pipe is significantly lower than cast-iron.

Insulating

PVC functions as an excellent insulator, and it doesn’t conduct electricity, making it good for wiring and manufacturing construction materials.

Fire Resistant

As a fire retardant, PVC can stop the intensity and spread of fires. Why? Because it has a combination of chlorine without much oxygen.

Limited Oxygen Index (LOI) measures the minimum percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere that supports the burning of a material.

If the material has an LOI above 21%, it’s less likely to sustain a fire. PVC’s LOI is above 27% – less likely to sustain a fire.

Polymers pvc

Chemical resistant

Because of PVC’s structure, it doesn’t chemically react with many substances. PVC rarely corrodes or otherwise reacts when it comes into contact with other chemicals and substances such as oils, inorganic acids, fats, salts, bases, and alcohols.

Think of it as the sloth of plastics.

This makes it ideal for a wide range of uses such as transporting several reagents through pipes — it doesn’t interact with any of the substances flowing through.

Disadvantages of PVC

Not all that glitters is gold, and PVC is no exception. There are some downsides to the use of this material, which include:

Environmental concerns

PVC is non-biodegradable, making it an environmental pollutant. It induces land pollution because plastic does not disintegrate. It causes air pollution because when it’s burned, it emits dioxin and hydrogen chloride — highly toxic chemicals to the environment.

Note: Thankfully, at RugPadUSA, we make our PVC rug pads like the Anchor Grip using soybean and bio-based fillers. This is to avoid using plasticizers like phthalates.

Health and safety concerns

Because of the toxic chemicals released by PVC during its manufacturing process, use, and disposal, it can be a threat to human health.

Toxins like phthalates and dioxins cause myriad illnesses such as hormonal imbalances, respiratory health effects, and in extreme cases, cancer.

Heat sensitivity

PVC has low thermal stability, making it heat sensitive. When subjected to consistently high levels of heat, it degenerates. (Which is why we don’t recommend our Anchor Grip pad for radiant heat flooring.)

Manufacturers can improve its heat stability by introducing certain stabilizers like lead, cadmium, and zinc. These additives prevent the degradation of PVC when exposed to heat.

What is PVC used for?

PVC’s versatility makes it common in the production of many items ranging from rug pads to toys and even in piping and construction. Here’s a quick run-down of some PVC products.

To buy this Chemical product, you can contact the leading professionals of Susyant business.