What Is PVC Tubing?
PVC tubing is plastic tubing made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Since polyvinyl chloride is a resin material with good electrical insulation properties, PVC tubing is used as a protective material for the insulation of various electronic devices.
Handling electric power is dangerous to the human body in an environment where people are likely to come into contact with it. Protecting wires and terminals with PVC tubing can reduce the risk of electric shock caused by unintentional contact and tracking reduction, which can occur when dust accumulates and ignites.
Uses of PVC Tubing
PVC tubing is made of polyvinyl chloride resin, which has a withstand voltage of 50 kV/mm or higher, nearly twice that of rubber or polyethylene. For this reason, PVC tubing is used in all kinds of electronic equipment as a protective material to prevent electric shock and short circuits.
PVC heat-shrinkable tubing, which shrinks when heated, has also been developed for use in wiring protection. By heating the tube after passing the wiring inside, the tube adheres to the wiring and can easily form a protective coating.
PVC resin also has excellent mechanical strength, including tear strength, chemical resistance, water resistance, and flame resistance, so it has a proven track record in the transportation of flammable liquids and chemicals.
Features of PVC Tubing
PVC resin is a plastic used so universally that it is called one of the four major general-purpose plastics, along with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. It is composed of molecular chains of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine, and is classified as an amorphous resin among general-purpose plastics.
PVC resin can be processed by various methods, including injection molding, vacuum molding, and blow molding, and PVC tubing is mainly produced by extrusion molding. Being an amorphous resin, the volume reduction due to crystallization is small, and products with stable dimensions can be obtained.
In addition, PVC resin is miscible with many substances, so it can exhibit a variety of properties by adding additives. For example, PVC pipe is a lightweight, rigid pipe used for housing, etc., but like flexible PVC tubing, it is made of PVC resin.
While it has many advantages, such as electrical insulation and chemical resistance as described above, PVC resin is heat sensitive and softens at about 85°C, making it unsuitable for use in environments where high temperatures are encountered during use. For bass, cold-resistant PVC tubing has been developed, which can be used in environments as low as -40°C without cracking or tearing.