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The Various Uses Of PVC

The Various Uses Of PVC

PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is the third most widely used polymer used after polyethylene and polypropylene. Its main appeals are versatility and strength. As a result, PVC is used in various industries, including construction, medical, transportation, electronics, and packaging.

PVC is lightweight and durable, making it perfect for projects that require consistent strength and reliability over time. It’s also flame-retardant and offers excellent electrical insulation features, making it useful for cabling.

PVC can come in rigid and flexible forms and be produced in almost any color imaginable—including translucent. It can be one of the stiffest polymers available for use at average ambient temperature, and it will maintain its strength for years and years.

Common uses for PVC include:

PVC at Piedmont Plastics

Piedmont Plastics offers PVC foam sheet and PVC tubing, which are useful for many industries ranging from building and construction to healthcare and printing.

PVC Foam Sheet

PVC foam sheet also referred to as expanded PVC, is a durable, closed-cell, free foam PVC sheet material that combines a rigid exterior and matte finish. PVC foam sheet is also known under such trade names as Palight®, Sintra®, Komatex®, and Celtec®. PVC foam sheet’s unique characteristics make it an ideal choice for point-of-sale displays, signage, convention kiosks, dimensional lettering, and display boards.

PVC foam sheet comes in various colors that remain consistent throughout the sheet, making it an excellent material for printing, painting, vinyl lettering, and laminating. In addition, you’ll often find it used for menu boards, advertising displays, exhibits, and specific limited exterior signage.

Available in various vibrant colors and a wide range of thicknesses and sizes, Foam sheet PVC comes in your choice of thickness and length. This allows customers to enjoy the combined benefits of cost-effectiveness with versatile functionality.

Piedmont Plastics carries a large inventory of PVC foam sheet in over 45 locations throughout North America. In addition, we offer custom-cutting in each location to give you the exact pieces you need for your project, with less waste and expense.

PVC Tubing

Industrial PVC comes in two primary forms: rigid and flexible. While rigid PVC is often used in the construction industry for pipes and door trimming, flexible PVC is used more for tubing, die-cut parts, industrial curtains, and spacer stock.

Flexible PVC comes in three different grades—Type I, II, and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl-chloride). Of the three, Type II and CPVC are the grades most often used in tubing due to their heat, chemical, and impact resistance.

PVC tubing can be found in many everyday applications such as food processing, engine fuel lines, medical devices and procedures, chemical testing, and even document processing. Without reliable, properly functioning tubing, operations fail, systems compromise, and brand assurance erodes.

Piedmont Plastics offers a broad range of flexible tubing for your projects. We have available options for applications that require such things as resistance to chemicals, temperature fluctuations, regulatory compliance for food and beverage applications, and long service life. Our industrial PVC tubing is available in various sizes, formulations, and colors to meet your specific needs.

Benefits and Uses Of PVC Foam Board

PVC foam board has several characteristics which make it a good choice for any number of projects. It is:

  • Strong and durable
  • Lightweight
  • Water-resistant
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Fire-resistant
  • Easily cut, shaped, and painted
  • Works well with screen or digital printing
  • Cheaper than other rigid materials

You can often find PVC foam board used for:

Benefits and Uses Of PVC Flexible Tubing

PVC flexible tubing boasts some distinct advantages over similar tubing materials.

  • Excellent resistance to chemicals, water, corrosion, deterioration, and kinks
  • Enjoys rubber-like flexibility and strength even at extremely low temperatures
  • Reliable flow
  • A versatility that allows it to be used for a variety of purposes
  • Meets all international standards for health and safety
  • Non-toxic
  • Inexpensive when compared to other tube or flexible piping options

Flexible PVC tubing is often used for:

  • Air and water transfer
  • Tubing for medical devices and procedures
  • Chemical mixing and conveyance
  • Scientific and pharmaceutical research
  • Food processing
  • Fuel lines
  • Wiring insulation
  • Wiring and cable routing
  • Refrigeration
  • Instrumentation

How Piedmont Plastics Can Serve You

Piedmont Plastics offers PVC foam board and flexible PVC tubing to its customers at their choice of size, width, and color. Contact us, and we’ll put you in touch with our plastics experts, who can help you find the best materials for your project from our nationwide network of over 40 branch locations.