PVC, Rigid

Rigid PVC Resin Properties & Uses

To avoid improper resin selection, Contact PMC for additional help in determining the exact engineering resin required for your application.
Material PVC, Rigid
Chemical Name Polyvinyl Chloride, Rigid
Structure Amorphous
Opacity Clear to Opaque
Strength Tough
Specific Gravity 1.45
Shrinkage 0.4% to 1.0%
Melting Point 185° F
 Deflection Temperature 150.8° F – 192.2° F
Service Temperature 140° F

Applications

Rigid PVC is used in a broad range of applications, including:

  • Building & Construction
  • Exterior Siding
  • Windows
  • Piping
  • Pipe Fittings
  • Sprinkler Systems
  • Office Furniture Edging
  • Bottles
  • Non-Food Packaging
  • Cards, such as Membership or Bank Cards
Advantages Rigid PVC is a versatile thermoplastic resin that’s rigid and tough under ambient conditions. To allow injection molding, additives are mixed with PVC, including stabilizers, lubricants, processing aids, pigments, impact modifiers and fillers. Some of its other advantages include:

  • Good Strength
  • High Clarity
  • Good Outdoor Weathering Characteristics
  • Flame Retardant
Disadvantages

Typically, lower molecular weight grades of this resin are used in injection molding as the high molecular weight grades are more difficult to process. It’s very important to process the material at the correct melt temperature to avoid decomposition and production of hydrochloric acid. Other limitations of Rigid PVC include:

  • Poor Thermal Capability
  • Sensitive to UV Degradation
  • Sensitive to Oxidative Degradation
  • Higher Molecular Weight Resin is More Difficult to Process
  • Stiff Flow Rate with Narrow Processing Range

For the most up-to-date information on engineering-grade resins, please visit: https://plastics.ulprospector.com/.

To avoid improper resin selection, Contact PMC for additional help in determining the exact engineering resin required for your application.