Polyvinyl Chloride PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used polymers in the world. Due to its versatile nature, PVC is
used extensively across a broad range of industrial, technical and everyday applications including widespread
use in building, transport, packaging, electrical/electronic and healthcare applications.

PVC is a very durable and long lasting material which can be used in a variety of applications, either rigid or
flexible, white or black and a wide range of colours in between.

The first patent for a polymerisation process to manufacture PVC was granted to German inventor Friedrich
Klatte in 1913 and PVC has been in commercial production since 1933. The material now accounts for about
20% of all plastic manufactured world-wide, second only to polyethlene.

Contents

1 Production
1.1 Raw Materials
1.2 Bi-Products
2 Physical Properties
2.1 Resistance to Chemicals
3 PVC and Additives
3.1 Functional Additives
3.11 Heat Stablisers
3.12 Lucricants
3.13 Plasticisers
3.2 Optional Additives
4 Benefits of PVC
5 Applications
5.1 Construction
5.2 Healthcare
5.3 Electronics
5.4 Automotive
5.5 Sport
5.6 Coated Fabrics
6 PVC and Sustainability
6.1 Environmental Impacts
6.2 Recycling of PVC
6.23 Examples of Some Current Recycling Schemes for PVC
6.3 Eco-profiles & Life Cycle Assessment
6.4 Total Cost of Ownership Study
6.5 Voluntary Committment to Sustainable Development (VinylPlus)
7 Useful Links
8 Find a Supplier of PVC or Plastic Material
9 Further reading
1 Production

The essential raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. The electrolysis of salt water produces
chlorine, which is combined with ethylene (obtained from oil) to form vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Molecules of
VCM are polymerised to form PVC resin, to which appropriate additives are incorporated to make a customised
PVC compound .

The PVC production process consists of 5 steps:

The extraction of salt and hydrocarbon resources

The production of ethylene and chlorine from these resources
The combination of chlorine and ethylene to make the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
The polymerisation of VCM to make poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC)
The blending of PVC polymer with other materials to produce different formulations providing a wide range of
physical properties.

Source: www.pvc.org

1.1 Raw Materials

PVC takes less non-renewable fossil fuel to make than any other commodity plastic because unlike other
thermoplastics which are entirely derived from oil, PVC is manufactured from two starting materials;
57% of the molecular weight derived from common salt
43% derived from hyrdocarbon feedstocks (increasingly ethylene from sugar crops is also being used for PVC
production as an alternative to ethylene from oil or natural gas)
Whilst PVC is most frequently made from salt and oil, in some regions of the world PVC is made without using oil
feedstock at all (substituting oil-derived hydrocarbon with bio-derived hydrocarbon feedstock). PVC is therefore
far less oil-dependent than other thermoplastics. It is also highly durable and energy efficient across a range of
applications, which makes for an extremely effective use of raw materials.

There are over 50 quadrillion tonnes of salt exist dissolved in the sea, with over 200billion tonnes of salt
available underground - reserves of this material are clearly abundant
Ethylene from oil equates to 0.3% of annual oil usage, but increasingly etheylene from sugar crops is also
being used for PVC production

1.2 Bi-Products

Products and bi-products of PVC manufacture include Chlorine and Caustic Soda, two of perhaps the most
important manufacturing "ingredients" not only for PVC manufacture, but many other applications. Chlorine is
used in the manufacture of life-saving medication, indeed 85% of all pharmaceuticals. Caustic Soda too has
many key, everyday applications, including the following applications: pulp and paper manufacture, soap and
surfactant manufacture, detergents and cleaners, aluminia extraction, textiles and in the food industry

2 Physical Properties

Type Product

Tensile Strength 2.60 N/mm²

Notched Impact Strength 2.0 - 45 Kj/m²

Thermal Coefficient of expansion 80 x 10-6

Max Cont Use Temp 60 oC

 Density 1.38 g/cm3

2.1 Resistance to Chemicals

Type Product

Dilute Acid Very Good

Dilute Alkalis Very Good

Oils and Greases Good (variable)

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons Very Good

Aromatic Hydrocarbons Poor

Halogenated Hydrocarbons Moderate (variable)

Alcohols Good (variable)

3 PVC and Additives

Before PVC can be made into products, it has to be combined with a range of special additives. These additives
can influence or determine a number of the products properties, namely; its mechanical properties, weather
fastness, its colour and clarity and indeed whether it is to be used in a flexible application. This process is called
compounding.

PVC's compatibility with many different kinds of additives is one of the materials many strengths and is what
makes it such a highly versatile polymer. PVC can be plasticised to make it flexible for use in flooring and medical
products. Rigid PVC, also known as PVC-U (The U stands for "unplasticised") is used extensively in building
applications such as window frames.

The functional additives used in all PVC materials include heat stabilisers, lubricants, and in the case of flexible
PVC, plasticisers. Optional additives, include a range of substances from processing aids, impact modifiers,
thermal modifiers, UV stabilisers, flame retardants, mineral fillers, pigments, to biocides, and blowing agents for
specific applications. The actual PVC polymer content in some flooring applications can be as low as 25% by
mass, the remainder accounted for by additives.

Its compatibility with additives allows for the possible addition of flame retardants although PVC is intrinsically fire
retardant because of the presence of chlorine in the polymer matrix.

3.1 Functional Additives

3.11 Heat stabilisers

Heat stabilisers are necessary in all PVC formulations to prevent the decomposition of the PVC by heat and
shear during processing. They can also enhance the PVC's resistance to daylight, and to weathering and heat
ageing. In addition heat stabilisers have an important influence on the physical properties of the PVC and the
cost of the formulation. The choice of heat stabiliser depends on a number of factors including the technical
requirements of the PVC product, regulatory approval requirements and cost.
3.12 Lubricants

These are used to reduce friction during processing. External lubricants can reduce friction between the PVC and
the processing equipment, whereas internal lubricants work on the PVC granules.

3.13 Plasticisers

A plasticiser is a substance which when added to a material, usually a plastic, makes it flexible, resilient and
easier to handle. Early examples of plasticisers include water to soften clay and oils to plasticise pitch for
waterproofing ancient boats.

The selection of plasticisers depends on the final properties required by the final product, and indeed whether the
product is for a flooring application or a medical application. There are more than 300 different types of
plasticisers of which about 50-100 are in commercial use. For more information on plasticisers, please
see http://www.plasticisers.org/
The most commonly used plasticisers are phthalates which can be divided into two distinct groups with very
different applications and classifications;

Low Phthalates: Low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates contain eight or less carbon atoms in their chemical
backbone. These include, DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP. The use of these phthalates in Europe is limited to certain
specialised applications.

High Phthalates: High molecular weight (HMW) phthalates are those with 7 - 13 carbon atoms in their chemical
backbone. These include: DINP, DIDP, DPHP, DIUP and DTDP. HMW phthalates are safely used in many
everyday including cables and flooring.

Speciality plasticisers, such as adipates, citrates, benzoates and trimeliltates are used where special physical
properties are required such as the ability to withstand very low temperatures or where increased flexibility is
important.

Many of the PVC products we use everyday but tend to take for granted contain phthalate plasticisers. They
include everything from lifesaving medical devices such as medical tubing and blood bags, to footwear, electrical
cables, packaging, stationery, and toys. In addition, phthalates are used in other non-PVC applications such as
paints, rubber products, adhesives and some cosmetics.

3.2 Optional Additives

These optional additives are not strictly necessary for the integrity of the plastic but are used to draw-upon other
properties. Optional additives include processing aids, impact modifiers, fillers, nitrile rubbers, pigments and
colorants and Flame Retardants.

More can be read about these substances either via Plastipedia or an excellent publication available from
the BPF Bookshop, entitled “PVC: Reaching for sustainability” by Dr. Mark Everard.

The BPF has a dedicated Additives Group, as well as a Masterbatch and Technical compounds Group.

4 Benefits of PVC

PVC has excellent electrical insulation properties, making it ideal for cabling applications. Its good impact
strength and weatherproof attributes make it ideal for construction products.
 PVC has extensive European food contact and medical approvals
PVC is easy to process, long lasting, tough and light
PVC consumes less primary energy during production than any of the other commodity plastics

Source: Software GaBi 4 Database - PE Europe

With high clarity and excellent organoleptic properties (no transfer of taint to food) it is equally suited for use in
short term applications such as specialised packaging.
PVC has a relatively small carbon footrpint, the below infographic indicates the CO2 impact PVC compared to
other products

PVC windows help to cut energy bills and PVC-based windows account for most BFRC ‘A’ Rated Energy
Efficient Windows
PVC is fully recyclable. Due to its properties it reprocesses well and can be recycled into second (or third life)
applications with ease.

5 Applications

PVC is a versatile material that offers many possible applications, these include; window frames, drainage pipe,
water service pipe, medical devices, blood storage bags, cable and wire insulation, resilient flooring, roofing
membranes, stationary, automotive interiors and seat coverings, fashion and footwear, packaging, cling film,
credit cards, vinyl records, synthetic leather and other coated fabrics.
5.1 Construction

PVC has been used extensively in a wide range of construction products for over half a
century. PVC's strong, lightweight, durable and versatile characteristics make it ideal for
window profiles. PVC's inherent flame retardant and excellent electrical insulation properties
make it ideal for cabling applications.

Typical example of PVC construction products include:

Window and door profiles, conservatories and atria

Pipes and fittings
Power, data and telecoms wiring and cables
Cable and services ducting
Internal and external cladding
Roofing and ceiling systems and membranes
Rainwater, soil and waste systems
Flooring
Wallcoverings

Unplasticised PVC is one of the stiffest polymers at normal ambient temperature and shows little deterioration
after many years in service.

PVC is versitile and can be used for different colours and effects, often being used as an alternative to traditional
wood frames as they offer tremendous energy-saving potential at low cost.

The Building Research Establishment (BRE), the UK's leading authority on sustainable construction, has granted
PVC-U windows a life-span of more than 35 years however, there are many examples of products lasting much
longer than this.

The latest BRE 'Green Guide to Specification', confirms that PVC is one of the best all-round framing materials
currently on the market. PVC-U windows, in a domestic setting, score an "A" rating and in the commercial arena,
an "A+" rating - the best there is! PVC-U windows are one of the best performing products on the market today.

The British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) also grades materials on their energy effiency, PVC-U frames -
compared to the listed Aluminium and Timber options - score many 'A' ratings, marking their superior energy
performance.
Coupled together with the variety of colours available (from a variety of manufacturers), the
inherant recyclability of PVC, minimal maintenance (regular cleaning required) and their ease of
repair, should anything go wrong, PVC-U Windows offer great advantages over competing
materials.

Further information on PVC-U windows can be found via our Windows Group
homepage, www.bpfwindowsgroup.co.uk.

PVC is also used in pipes and reservoir linings that help the safe and cost-effective provision of drinking water
and sanitation. More information can be found at www.bpfpipesgroup.com

Other construction applications: door profiles, pipes and fittings, power, data and telecoms wiring and cables,
cable and services ducting, internal and external cladding, conservatories and atria, roofing and ceiling systems
and membranes, rainwater, flooring and wallcoverings.

5.2 Healthcare

PVC has been used for hundreds of life-saving and healthcare products for almost 50 years
being used in surgery, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery and medical packaging due to its
unrivalled performance characteristics and cost-efficiency.

Typical examples of PVC healthcare products include:

"Artificial skin" in emergency burns treatment

Blood and plasma transfusion sets
Blood vessels for artificial kidneys
Catheters and cannulae
Blood bags
Containers for intravenous solution giving sets
Container for urine continence and ostomy products
Endotracheal tubing
Inflatable splints
Surgical and examination gloves
Shatter-proof bottles and jars
Overshoes
Protective sheeting and tailored covers
Mattress and bedding covers
Wall and floor coverings
Blister and dosage packs for pharmaceuticals and medicines

Flexible PVC is used to make blood storage bags, and in fact is the only material approved by the European
Pharmacopoeia for this purpose. The nature of the material means that blood can be stored safely for longer.
 PVC packaging is also widely used in the packaging of pharmaceutical products.

Other examples of PVC healthcare products: "Artificial skin" in emergency burns treatment, blood and plasma
transfusion sets, blood vessels for artificial kidneys, catheters, blood bags, containers for intravenous solution
giving sets, container for urine continence and ostomy products, endotracheal tubing, feeding and pressure
monitoring tubing, inhalation masks, surgical and examination gloves, shatter-proof bottles and jars, mattress and
bedding covers and blister and dosage packs for pharmaceuticals and medicines

5.3 Electronics

PVC was first used as cable insulation as a replacement for rubber during the Second World War and continues
to be used widely to this day due to its flexibility, ease of handling in installation and inherent flame retardation.

PVC cables do not harden and crack over time and find use in many applications from telecommunications to
electric blankets.

5.4 Automotive

Typical examples of PVC automotive components include:

Instrument panels and associated mouldings

Interior Door Panels and Pockets
Sun Visors
Seat Coverings
Mud Flaps
Underbody Coating
Auto Harness Wiring

PVC brings both high performance qualities and important cost benefits to the automotive industry. Independent
research by Mavel Consultants has shown that the typical cost of using alternative materials is in a range 20-
100% higher per component.

Automotive applications: Instrument panels and associated mouldings, interior door panels and pockets, sun
visors, seat coverings, headlining, seals, mud flaps, underbody coating, floor coverings, exterior side moulding
and protective strips and anti-stone damage protection.

5.5 Sport
As PVC is a highly versatile construction material with a favourable environmental footprint it is extensively used
in the construction of sporting venues. This includes use in seating, roofings, floorings as well as piping and
electrical wiring. Some examples of sporting venues using PVC for their roopfing membranes are shown below.

1. Gottlieb Daimler Stadion roof, Stuttgart. Picture: Kind permission of ECVM. 2. Lords Cricket Ground roof. Picture: Kind permission of Base Structures Ltd. 3. Volksparkstadion roof, Hamburg.
Picture: Kind permission of ECVM. 4. Cape Town World Cup 2010 Stadium. Picture: Kind permission of Bruce Sutherland, City of Capetown/PVCplus. Background. Stadium seating. Picture: Fotalia.

In addition to use in stadiums and sporting venues, PVC is used extensively by athletes from the clothes and
shoes they wear to the equipment they use and the surfaces they compete on.
 1 Basketball court. Picture: Tarkett | 2 All weather sailing protection | 3 Inflatable climbing wall. Picture: Courtesy of Akcros Chemicals

Other sporting applications: performance sports surfaces, sports equipment, clothing, protective
barriers, matting, wiring and piping infrastructure.

More information on the role of PVC in sport can be found at www.pvcinsport.co.uk

5.6 Coated Fabrics

PVC is widely used in coated fabrics applications, this includes use in emergency shelters to

help people at times of disaster

6 PVC and Sustainability

PVC's contribution is by no means limited to its products. The PVC industry is also setting a unique example in
the process of working together as a supply chain in driving forward sustainable development.
There are many definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development, but it can best be defined by the three
main pillars of sustainability; social, economic and environmental.

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs."

Economic Sustainability

The PVC industry has enduring pre-war origins and employs huge numbers of people worldwide across the
supply chain, which is spread between large multinationals and SME's making a significant contributing to the
growth of the global economy .

Social Sustainability:

Companies offer rewarding, long-term employment opportunities (including training opportunities), with safe
working environments and whose products contribute to good quality homes, through energy efficient windows
to the safe transportation of drinking water. Generally, PVC products are light-weight to install - thus a potential
for fewer accidents, but far from just providing the windows and pipes for your property, cabling, ducting,
roofline products are usually PVC.

Environmental Sustainability

In terms of environmental sustainability there are common elements in all studies (on PVC and other materials)
consistent with reducing human impact on eco-systems:

With world population over over 7 Billion and growing we need to conserve scarce resources and we should
minimise ‘human’ land-usage in order to protect biodiversity by giving priority to essential uses (e.g. food
crops). To achieve this, we need to minimise or eliminate waste by efficient use of materials and increase
recycling rates - something that the PVC industry within Europe is committed to.

6.1 Environmental Impacts

The environmental impacts of any one material cannot be judged in isolation since the use of alternatives will not
be without cost, either financially or to the environment. Materials that compete with PVC are often promoted as
a more natural choice, indeed, ‘natural’ does not equate to ‘better’ or ‘more sustainable'.

Some competing materials claim environmental and sustainability advantages over PVC – this is usually based
either on myths about the environmental impact of PVC or unjustifiably biased opinions about the competing
materials.

6.2 Recycling of PVC

The structure and composition of PVC lends itself to being mechanically recycled, with reasonable ease,
to produce good quality recycling material. As with most recycling streams, sorting is of the utmost importance to
achieve optimal recycling of PVC materials.

Acrosss the world, the PVC industry has invested heavily to develop sophisticated recycling schemes to ensure
that large amounts of PVC can be reused in a new generation of advanced energy efficient, sustainable
products. This investment has meant that not just prodcution off-cuts are recycled but also products such as
doors and PVC-U windows are recycled on a huge global scale.
Whilst old windows are recycled, the process is far more complex that off-cuts due to contamination such as
building debris (e.g. steel, concrete and sealants) which need to be removed before re-processing.

Case Study: The World's First 100 percent Recycled PVC Windows

6.23 Examples of Some Current Recycling Schemes for PVC

Recovinyl provides financial incentives to support the collection of PVC waste from non
regulated sectors. This European scheme, backed by the British Plastics Federation,
aims to ensure a steady supply of post-consumer PVC waste for recycling. For further
information, please visit; www.recovinyl.com

The Recofloor scheme, managed by Axion Consulting Ltd, provides a mechanism for waste vinyl
flooring to be collected and recycled. The scheme accepts uplifted vinyl flooring and post-installation
off-cuts.

The recycled flooring can be used in the manufacture of new flooring or to produce traffic
management products such as traffic cones and road sign bases. For further information, please
visit, www.recofloor.org/
 RecoMed is a PVC take-back scheme currently being implemented at 7 different NHS hospitals
across Britain (as of March 2016). The scheme involves the collection of used PVC medical devices
including IV solution bags; nasal cannulas; oxygen tubes; anaesthetic masks and oxygen masks.
With around 1500 hospitals in the UK, estimates put the total tonnage of PVC waste at over 2,000
tonnes per annum.

6.3 Eco-profiles & Life Cycle Assessment

On behalf of the European Commission, and as part of a full review of PVC, PE Europe Consulting
Group together with the University of Stuttgart undertook a Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of Principal
Competing Materials. The report, published June 2004, showed PVC products to be comparable to alternatives in
their environmental impact.The report can be downloaded from the Europa website.

Eco-profiles provide environmental analysis for a product from 'cradle-to-gate' (as opposed to the 'cradle-to-
grave' approach of Life Cycle Assessment). Eco-profiles of PVC were updated in 2006 and can be downloaded
from thePlasticsEurope Eco-profiles webpages.

6.4 Total Cost of Ownership Study

In 2011, the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) commissioned an independent company to
undertake a study on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of PVC products. A Total Cost of Ownership study takes
into account all costs associated with a product over its entire life cycle.

The study focussed on three particular applications; windows, flooring and outdoor pipes, utilising data from
Germany and Italy (judged to be a fair representation of conditions in north and south European countries).

The study concluds that not only does PVC provide decisive cost advantages due to its low initial purchase price
but also in its low cost of ownership throughout the life of the product.

Click here to download the final report

Click here to download the ECVM leaflet

6.5 Voluntary Committment to Sustainable Development (VinylPlus)

Since the 90's , the European PVC Industry has been working hard to embrace its
responsibility to the challenge of sustainable development.

The European PVC Industry's ten-year Voluntary Committment to Sustainable

Development, know as Vinyl2010, made exceptional progress in waste
management, recycling and the responsible use of additives.

Following the conclusion of the Vinyl2010 ten year programme, new targets for sustainable development were
launched as part of the successor VinylPlus programme. For more information, please visitwww.vinylplus.eu.

In creating VinylPlus, the industry has chosen to work in an open process of extensive stakeholder dialogue,
including private companies, NGOs, regulators, politicians and users of PVC.
Five key challenges have been identified as priorities according to The Natural Stepsystem conditions for a
sustainable society:

Controlled loop management of PVC

Organochlorine emissions (to ensure that persistent organic compounds do not accumulate in nature)
Sustainable use of additives
Sustainable energy
Sustainability awareness

The Natural Step Framework is an internationally recognised method for sustainability planning that integrates
the science of sustainability with business decision-making.

7 Useful Links

BPF Vinyls Group Vinyl2010 VinylPlus www.pvc.org

For further information on PVC, please visit www.pvcexplained.co.uk

8 Find a Supplier of PVC or Another Material

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to relevant companies in membership.

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