What Is a PVC Sheet?
A PVC sheet is a product made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to which a plasticizer is added and processed into a sheet form. It is used in various applications because of its various advantages such as durability, lightness, and low cost.
PVC sheets are transparent and are used as sheets for vinyl greenhouses for agriculture. PVC sheets are resistant to oxidation by oxygen in the air, but they harden at low temperatures, making them susceptible to cracking.
Characteristics of PVC Sheets
PVC is polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as “vinyl chloride,” which is a synthetic resin. PVC is widely used for its various advantages such as lightweight, low cost, and high durability, etc. The softness of PVC can be controlled by adding plasticizers. Soft resin containing plasticizers is called “soft PVC” while hard resin without plasticizers is called “hard PVC.
PVC sheets are made of soft PVC processed into a sheet form. Because PVC is easy to color and print, it is used for housing decoration, and because it is transparent and weather-resistant, it is used as a sheet for vinyl greenhouses for agriculture. In addition, conductive PVC sheets printed with conductive carbon are also used.
Manufacturing Process of PVC Sheets
PVC is made by polymerizing a monomer called vinyl chloride. Because the monomer contains chlorine atoms, it exhibits different properties from other resins. It is more flame-resistant than polypropylene and polyethylene, which have only carbon and hydrogen as constituent atoms. PVC sheets are made by adding a plasticizer to the PVC obtained by polymerization, softening it, and then processing it into a thin sheet.
Recently, material recycling has been progressing, where PVC is reused once it has been processed. For example, PVC sheets used in agriculture are cleaned, crushed, and converted into recycled resin for use as flooring material.
There are also chemical recycling, which uses chemical methods to recycle PVC, and thermal recycling, which effectively uses the heat energy generated when PVC is burned.
Durability of PVC Sheets
PVC is more durable than resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene. It is almost impervious to oxidation reactions caused by atmospheric oxygen and can ideally be used semi-permanently.
On the other hand, PVC sheets harden rapidly at low temperatures, making them unbendable, and the hardening may also make them susceptible to cracking. In addition, plasticizers may gradually appear on the surface of the resin, causing it to lose its softness. Other types of organic solvents may dissolve the sheet; if PVC sheets are likely to come in contact with chemicals, it is recommended that their resistance to chemicals be checked beforehand.