What You Need To Know About PVC?
PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a type of thermoplastic polymers. Naturally, it is brittle but after additions of plasticizers it becomes durable. PVC is made in two forms, one in the form of flexible plastic and the other as unplasticized polymer or uPVC or RPVC, which is more rigid.
Plasticized, flexible or regular PVCs are more adaptable to bending than uPVC because of the plasticizers, such as phthalates, added to it. Regular PVCs is most of the time used in construction to insulate flooring for hospitals, schools, homes and other areas, which require a sterile environment, or PVC is used to insulate or house electrical wires and can be a good replacement for rubber. On the other hand, rigid or uPVC can be used as well in construction as piping for plumbing use.
PVC pipes are referred to either as schedule 80 or schedule 40, where difference lies on pressure rating, color and thickness. The most important characteristic of PVC plastic is its low price, high hardness, resistance to different environmental degradation including alkalies and chemicals, and extremely high tensile strength.
This thermoplastic polymers are available anywhere in the world and can be recycled anytime needed.
The characteristics of PVC
The most significant and notable characteristics of PVC are:
- Density – compared to other plastic, it is very dense
- Economics – as previously discussed, it is cheap and highly available
- Hardness – it is very hard particularly rigid PVC or uPVC
- Strength – uPVC has an extreme tensile strength characteristic
PVC opposite to thermoset is a thermoplastic, which impacts the way plastic reacts to heat. The thermoplastic material will turn to liquid at a specific melting point, which usually ranges between 100 degrees Celsius up to higher values such as 260 degrees Celsius dependent on the additives.
One of the most prominent attributes of thermoplastics is the fact that they could be heated up to their specified melting point, then cooled and then heated again with no significant degradation, hence making it a perfect choice for water tanks.
Why PVC is highly used?
PVC, rigid ones to be specific has extremely high density making it very strong and durable. It is economical and readily available plus the fact that it is meant to last for a very long time compared to other type of plastics.
The overall characteristic of PVC has made it a top choice especially to plumbing. PVC water tanks for instance where heating and colding occurs.
How it is made?
PVC is made through one of the three processes below:
- Emulsion polymerization
- Bulk polymerization
- Suspension polymerization
Is it toxic?
When it is burned, it can pose few health hazards to users, as it releases HCI or hydrogen chloride fumes. If this is to be used in areas where possibilities or chances of fire is high, this may not be recommended for use.
But its ability to carry heating and cold without any adverse effects make it a top choice for plumbing.
There are more to know about PVC before you consider using it. Yet, the information above is enough to know the basic of this material.
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