Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Characteristics and Uses

If you often work on construction projects or repair water pipes at home, you may be familiar with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This synthetic material is frequently used to make water pipes and conduit pipes.

However, PVC actually has various uses. This article discusses the ins and outs of polyvinyl chloride, including its definition, utilization, and characteristics. So, read the complete information below!

What Is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)?

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is an affordable and multipurpose thermoplastic polymer. PVC comes from the polymerization process of vinyl chloride monomers.

This material is typically used in the construction industry to produce water pipes, door frames, window frames, cable insulation, and other products.

The most common characteristics of PVC are lightweight, shapeable, durable, economic, and processable. Moreover, PVC is resistant to pressure, corrosion, and weather and has great thermal and electrical insulation.

Thanks to those characteristics, PVC begins to replace other construction materials in some applications, such as wood, concrete, ceramic, rubber, and iron.

PVC's history began in 1872 when Eugen Baumann, a German chemist, exposed vinyl chloride gas enclosed in a tube to direct sunlight.

Then, in 1913, a German chemist named Friedrich Klatte received the first patent on PVC polymerization using sunlight. During World War I, Germany produced rigid and flexible PVC-based products as an alternative to corrosible iron materials.

Then, how about the PVC usage globally? Statista reported that in 2022, the average price for PVC reached USD 1,115 per metric ton, or approximately IDR 18 million (USD 1=IDR 16,795).

Moreover, in 2021, the construction sector became the most-played end-use sector in global PVC use. This is thanks to the resilience against weather and corrosion, making it leveraged to produce windows, flooring, and clothes.

In addition, the next most influential end-use sector is the transportation and automotive sectors, using PVC for the outer and inner parts of vehicles, owing to the flexible and shapeable characteristics.

The Production Process of Polyvinyl Chloride

The making process of polyvinyl chloride started with the production of vinyl chloride monomer through the ethylene chlorination process and ethylene dichloride (EDC) pyrolysis in the crackers. Next, PVC is produced with VCM polymerization.

There are two most common methods to create commercial PVC: suspension (S-PVC) and emulsion (E-PVC).

1. Suspension (S-PVC)

PVC suspension introduces a monomer with the polymerization initiator and additives in a pressure-tight reactor. This process will maintain the suspension and ensure that the size of PVC resin particles is uniform.

Then, the formed particles will be mixed with plasticizer or extruded into plastic pellets. This polymerization is leveraged in 80% of PVC production in the world.

2. Emulsion (E-PVC)

Emulsion is also called a bulk process. In this process, surfactant or soap will be used to break VCM down in the water. Then, the monomer tapped into the surfactant micelle will be protected by the soap. The polymerization process occurred using a soluble initiator.

Usually, PVC made with the emulsion process will be a coating, spreading, or dipping resin. However, this process needs a high flexible PVC formula cost.

Basic Forms of Polyvinyl Chloride

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) comes in two common forms: rigid and flexible. But PVC also has other types: PVC-M, CPVC, and PVC-O. Here is the complete explanation:

1. Rigid PVC

Rigid PVC is an unplasticized PVC (uPVC/PVC-U). It is rigid and relatively affordable. This type of PVC is impact, weather, chemical, water, and corrosion resistant.

2. Flexible PVC

Flexible PVC is a plasticized polyvinyl chloride, meaning that the PVC has been mixed with compatible plasticizers to increase the clarity and flexibility. This type of PVC is usually called PVC-P.

3. Modified PVC

Modified PVC (PVC-M) is a polyvinyl chloride that has been modified with a modification agent to increase its durability and resistance against impact.

4. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride

Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) or perchlorovinyl is a PVC made with PVC resin chlorination. This process makes PVC durable, chemical-resistant, and flame-resistant. This type of PVC is also resistant to various temperatures.

5. Molecular Oriented PVC

Molecular oriented PVC or PVC-O is a polyvinyl chloride material that has undergone rearrangement of the amorphous PVC-U structure to form a layered structure. This type is considered more rigid, light, and fatigue-resistant despite being subjected to a pressure cycle.

The Use of Polyvinyl Chloride

Thanks to its durability and processability, PVC is used for various purposes, especially industrial needs. Below are some applications of PVC in diverse sectors:

1. Water Pipe

One of the most common uses of PVC is for water pipes. PVC is utilized because the water pipe makes direct contact with numerous liquids, so it must be water damage-proof and corrosion-resistant.

2. Construction Materials

Aside from water pipes, PVC is used to produce construction materials, such as window profiles, cable fittings, ceilings, wall panels, and other materials, thanks to its sturdiness against corrosion and its strength.

3. Electrical Equipment

PVC can insulate well, making it suitable for electric cables and other electrical equipment. PVC also protects the cable from damage.

4. Medical Equipment

PVC is commonly used to produce disposable medical equipment, such as disposable gloves, blood bags, and medical hoses.

5. Household Furniture

Polyvinyl chloride can be used to produce house furniture, such as shelves, chairs, and tables, due to its malleable, sturdy, and light characteristics.

6. Packagings

Polyvinyl chloride is utilized to make pharmaceutical and consumer product packaging, such as blister packs and plastic bottles, because it is impact-proof, strong, and can keep the product clean.

7. Housewares

Housewares like bowls, shower curtains, and buckets are produced using PVC because it is cleanable and lightweight, as well as chemical, water, and food-proof.

That is the information about polyvinyl chloride that you can learn. This material becomes one of the aces in various industries due to its endurance and malleability.

To make a PVC product, you need other materials, one of which is ethylene dichloride (EDC). If your company needs standardized ethylene dichloride, Chandra Asri Group is the solution!

As a prominent chemical, energy, and infrastructure company in Southeast Asia, Chandra Asri Group provides ethylene dichloride for polyvinyl chloride making. In addition, we also offer other high-quality chemicals, such as olefin, styrene monomer, caustic soda, and many more.

So, make sure to trust your chemical needs to Chandra Asri Group!