Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world. Its basic building blocks are chlorine, carbon and hydrogen – the chlorine being derived from salt, a resource in great abundance. Unlike other plastics, it does not rely so much on oil and so has good environmental credentials.
PVC can be rigid or flexible, coloured or transparent. Rigid PVC is predominantly used in the packaging of food, pharmaceutical and medical products. In packaging applications also its excellent ‘stretchability’ in flexible form means it is most commonly seen as cling film for food wrappings in the home as well as in thermoformed trays where it offers outstanding product visibility.
It is also widely used in applications ranging from window and door frames (PVCu) to cable sleeving for electrical and telecoms wiring where its fire resistance is crucially important.
PVC is an extremely versatile polymer which is irreplaceable in applications such as blood bags, flexible tubing for catheters, surgical gloves and wall and floor coverings.