What is the material of PVC?
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a synthetic plastic material widely used in industry, construction, medical and other fields. In recent years, with the improvement of environmental awareness and the advancement of material science, the material characteristics, application scenarios and environmental protection issues of PVC have become hot topics. This article will analyze the material characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, application fields and market data of PVC to help readers fully understand this common material.
1. Material characteristics of PVC
PVC is a polymer material polymerized from vinyl chloride monomer. Its chemical structure determines the following characteristics:
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| chemical stability | Resistant to acids, bases, salts and most solvents |
| Mechanical strength | The tensile strength of rigid PVC can reach 50-60MPa |
| Weather resistance | Can be used outdoors for a long time after adding stabilizer |
| electrical insulation | Volume resistivity is as high as 10^16Ω·cm |
| Plasticity | Adjust the hardness and softness through plasticizers |
2. Analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of PVC
As the third most common plastic in the world, PVC has significant advantages, but it is also controversial:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Low cost (about 6-8 yuan/kg) | Dioxins may be produced during the production process |
| The service life is 30-50 years | Recycling rate is less than 35% |
| Excellent flame retardant performance (oxygen index ≥ 45) | Some additives pose health risks |
| Low processing temperature (160-200℃) | Easily brittle at low temperatures |
3. Main application areas of PVC
According to the latest industry data, the global application distribution of PVC is as follows:
| Application areas | Proportion | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| construction industry | 65% | Pipes, door and window profiles, floors |
| packaging materials | 15% | Food packaging film, bottle cap liner |
| Electronic appliances | 8% | Wire and cable insulation layer |
| medical supplies | 7% | Infusion bag, disposable gloves |
| Others | 5% | Toys, artificial leather, etc. |
4. Latest developments in PVC market
According to the industry report for the third quarter of 2023:
| indicator | data | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| global production capacity | 58 million tons/year | +3.2% |
| China production | 21 million tons | +5.6% |
| Proportion of recycled PVC | 18% | +2.4% |
| European plastic restriction policy | Added 15 new categories of restricted products | Tighter supervision |
5. Innovation progress of environmentally friendly PVC
In order to cope with environmental protection challenges, the industry is actively promoting the following technological innovations:
1.Bio-based PVC: Use plant-derived ethylene to replace petroleum raw materials, reducing carbon footprint by 40%
2.Lead-free stabilizer: Calcium-zinc composite stabilizer has accounted for 60% of the market share
3.Chemical recycling technology: The depolymerization recovery rate exceeds 85%, and the product reaches food grade standards.
4.Degradable modification: Adding ingredients such as starch to accelerate degradation is in the experimental stage.
Conclusion
As a cost-effective engineering plastic, PVC will remain important in the foreseeable future. With breakthroughs in green manufacturing technology and the improvement of the circular economy system, the PVC industry is developing in a more sustainable direction. When consumers choose PVC products, they can pay attention to environmental certification labels, such as the European Union's EU Ecolabel or China's environmental label certification.
check the details
check the details
en
