The material. PVC (vinyl) is one of the cheapest, most versatile, and, with polyethylene, the most widely used of polymers and epitomizes their multifaceted character. In its pure form—as a thermoplastic, tpPVC—it is rigid and not very tough; its low price makes it a cost-effective engineering plastic where extremes of service are not encountered. Incorporating plasticizers creates flexible PVC, elPVC, a material with leather – or rubberlike properties and used a substitute for both. By contrast, reinforcement with glass fibers gives a material that is sufficiently stiff, strong, and tough to be used for roofs, flooring, and building panels.
Composition
|
General properties Density Price Mechanical properties Young’s modulus Yield strength (elastic limit) Tensile strength Compressive strength Elongation Hardness—Vickers Fatigue strength at 107 cycles Fracture toughness Thermal properties Glass temperature Maximum service temperature Thermal conductor or insulator? Thermal conductivity Specific heat capacity Thermal expansion coefficient Electrical properties Electrical conductor or insulator? Electrical resistivity Dielectric constant Dissipation factor Dielectric strength |
(CH2CHCl)n
These boat fenders illustrate that PVC is tough, weather resistant, and easy to form and color.
Ecoproperties: material
|
Annual world production |
4.9 X 107 |
– 5.1 X 107 |
tonne/yr |
|
Reserves |
*1.38 X 109 |
– 1.4 X 109 |
tonne |
|
Embodied energy, primary production |
68 |
– 95 |
MJ/kg |
|
CO2 footprint, primary production |
2.2 |
– 2.6 |
kg/kg |
|
Water usage |
*18.9 |
– 56.7 |
l/kg |
|
Eco-indicator |
260 |
– 280 |
millipoints/kg |
|
Ecoproperties: processing |
|||
|
Polymer molding energy |
*9.57 |
– 10.6 |
MJ/kg |
|
Polymer molding CO2 |
*0.766 |
– 0.844 |
kg/kg |
|
Polymer extrusion energy |
*3.41 |
– 3.75 |
MJ/kg |
|
Polymer extrusion CO2 |
*0.272 |
– 0.3 |
kg/kg |
|
Recycling |
|||
|
Embodied energy, recycling |
28.6 |
– 39.9 |
MJ/kg |
|
CO2 footprint, recycling |
0.924 |
– 1.09 |
kg/kg |
|
Recycle fraction in current supply Recycle mark |
0.5 3 PVC |
– 1 |
% |
Typical uses. tpPVC: pipes, fittings, profiles, road signs, cosmetic packaging, canoes, garden hoses, vinyl flooring, windows and cladding, vinyl records, dolls, medical tubes. elPVC: artificial leather, wire insulation, film, sheet, fabric, car upholstery.
