PVC is one of the oldest thermoplastics and was first patented in the US in the late 1920’s. By itself, PVC is hard and brittle at room temperature, but PVC is compatible with many additives that lend it a wide range of performance characteristics that can meet diverse application needs. PVC can be made very rigid and strong for use in construction and pipes, or as flexible as needed for use in fabric and carpets. PVC is extremely versatile with a wide variety of resin types. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to process. PVC profiles have pretty good chemical resistance, water and weather resistance, offer fair thermal stability, have excellent electrical insulation properties, have fair heat resistance, and are inherently flame retardant because PVC is chlorinated. PVC profiles can be clear or colored and can have a high gloss or matte finish.
Flexible PVC is an excellent material for the use in latex-free profiles. Flexible PVC costs less by weight than rubber or TPEs and provides significantly greater clarity. Flexible PVC is readily solvent-bonded, more kink resistant (in tubing) and exhibits less neck-down (width/breadth narrows) when stretched. Flexible PVC is generally known to be the most cost-effective Extruded Plastic Profile, high-performance material used in Latex-free profiles.
While PVC is considered a very good overall plastic material in terms of price and properties, it is currently receiving some negative publicity due to the presence of chlorine in its chemical makeup. With today’s concerns for the environment, some of our customers are choosing other “greener” materials to meet their application needs. We have been working on alternatives to PVC for quite some time and have come up with a number of new materials that offer similar properties to PVC along with attractive pricing.
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