PVC is an acronym for Polyvinyl Chloride but is also better known as vinyl. Commercially produced since 1033, PVC is a product that is produced from carbon (predominantly oil or gas) and common salt.

Goods that are made from Polyvinyl Chloride are incredibly robust and long-lasting – flooring and roofing which is made from PVC can last more than 20 years and a simple PVC pipe can be expected to last up to 50 years, which is a great improvement on its counterparts. PVC is an adaptable product that is widely used across the healthcare industry, transport, building electrical and packaging to name but a few.

The manufacturing process of Polyvinyl Chloride is made up of five key stages: -

  • The extraction of salt and hydrocarbons.
  • The creation of ethylene and chlorine from salt and hydrocarbons.
  • The mixing of chlorine and ethylene to produce vinyl chloride monomer.
  • The polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer to produce PVC.
  • The combining of PVC polymers with additional materials such as plasticisers

The robust nature of the material makes PVC a key component in many industries and none more than the building and construction industries. This resilient product is resistant to chemical rotting, corrosion, and the weather. Most importantly, PVC doesn’t conduct electricity, making it an essential component for use in high-tech products including wire and cabling.

Some of the more common examples of PVC usage in the building and construction industry are

  • Power, data, and telecoms, wiring and cables

The benefits of utilising PVC in construction instead of the more traditional materials is that it is strong yet lightweight, making durable, versatile and easier to transport. These advantages have led to PVC becoming increasingly popular within the construction and building industry over the years, resulting in it now taking over from a number of more traditional products used, including wood, concrete, and metal. Not only this, but PVC also has numerous environmentally-friendly benefits too! The high resistance characteristics of PVC mean that rust will not form on the plastic, hence, no rust is able to soak into the ground or water supply – this is a big deal when the parts are being used underground to transport water.