What Are The Key Benefits of PVC as a Material?

As PVC curtain manufacturers, we have seen a sharp rise in the number of products made out of PVC material in the past few years. Take a quick look around your home or business premises now and it will probably be quicker to highlight the items that aren't made out of PVC plastic, than those that are! Today, PVC is one of the most commonly used materials, often used for many industrial applications. However, there are still people who don't realise the benefits of using this polymer instead of other materials - here are just some of those benefits:

Flame Resistance

You may find this hard to believe, but products made from PVC are naturally resistant to excessive heat and even flame. On top of this, fillers and other additives which include flame-retardant chemicals can also be added to make up to 20% of the material.

Chemical and UV Resistance

PVC is naturally resistant to sunlight, but as with flame resistance additives, more additives can be introduced to the polymer in order to increase this resistance. The fact that PVC is resistant to UV helps to slow down its degradation - which is important to note.

PVC sheets, such as those used in loading docks, also offer strong protection against alkalis, salts and acids - even outperforming polyethene and polypropylene compounds.

Strength

PVC is not only tough and has good mechanical strength, but it is also extremely lightweight which makes it useful for a wide range of applications. Its light-weightiness also reduces the manual handling difficulties of the material as well.

Durability

PVC is not only naturally resistant to heat and UV light, but also to chemical rotting, corrosion, shock and abrasion. Therefore, it tends to have a longer lifespan than other materials. For example, studies have shown that 75% of PVC pipes can last up to 100 years.

Cost Efficiency

There are lots of plastic polymers available for use in commercial settings, but many chemical and industrial engineers don't realise that due to its inherent heat and chemical resistance, PVC is sometimes more suitable for use than the more 'popular' materials, such as flame-retardant ABS and polycarbonate ABS polymers. PVC products tend to be more efficiently made and excess scraps can be completely recycled - which means that the manufacturer can pass these savings directly onto the customer.

Safety

PVC is a non-toxic material and is the world's most thoroughly tested and researched plastic. It meets all international standards for health and safety for both products made from it and applications it is used for.

Commercial Applications

PVC really does play a role in many products, probably a lot more than you realise. Obviously, the most common ones include strip doors that help maintain the temperature of an industrial setting and also restrict the dispersal of dust and other external contaminants.

For more information on our PVC products, please give us a call on 0333 999 7171 or drop us an email to sales@stripcurtainsdirect.co.uk