Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Applications for Polyvinyl Chloride

Few materials adapt as flexibly to the diverse needs of the construction industry as plastic. Plastics are increasingly replacing traditional materials such as wood and metal.

PVC has a high chemical resistance and is resistant to water, oil and many acids and alkalis. It also has good mechanical strength and durability. These properties make it a popular material for making water and sewer pipes, gutters, front doors, window frames and sills, flooring and other building components.

It is also used in electrical engineering, particularly in the manufacture of insulation and electrical cable sheathing.

In the automotive industry, PVC is used to make interior trim, seat covers and headliners.

It is also an important material in the manufacture of medical equipment, particularly blood transfusion and dialysis systems. High-purity PVC with very low levels of additives and impurities is used in medical applications. Advantages include good thermoformability, strength, flexibility, chemical resistance and low allergy potential. PVC is used to make bags for blood, drugs or nutritional solutions, gloves, tubing and catheters, blister packs and various disposable items.

PVC is also used in the textile industry, particularly in the manufacture of shoes, bags and clothing. It is also used as a plasticizer in many other materials, such as rubber and polyurethane, to improve their flexibility and durability.

PVC has a wide range of applications, including the packaging and sports and leisure industries. For example, it is used for films, packaging, tents, suitcases, artificial leather and as a substrate for advertising media.

Overall, PVC is a versatile and important material with many applications in different industries. It is valued for its chemical resistance, durability and mechanical properties and has proven to be a reliable material for many applications.

How is PVC made?

PVC is made by polymerizing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). The VCM is polymerized in a reaction in the presence of an initiator (usually peroxide) and a stabilizer. This process can be either suspension or emulsion polymerization.

In emulsion polymerization, the monomers are emulsified in water and polymerized under pressure and at lower temperatures. This process produces PVC dispersions, which are then dried and milled.

The resulting PVC powder is then shaped and thermally treated. This process is called calcination. There are several types of calcination, depending on the application and production method.

After calcination, the PVC is further processed into its final form, either by extrusion, injection molding, pressing or other technologies.

Suspension Process

The most commonly used process for producing polyvinyl chloride is the slurry process.

In suspension polymerization, the monomers are suspended in water and polymerized under pressure and at high temperatures. Organic peroxides are typically used as initiators. This process produces PVC particles, which are then dried, ground and screened.

The resulting product is also known as S-PVC.

PVC production – suspension process