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Plasticized (Flexible) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC-P)

PVC-P is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyvinyl plastic. It has a very low tensile strength and a moderately high ductility among thermoplastics. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PVC-P to: polyvinyl plastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

1.4 GPa 0.2 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

180 %

Impact Strength: Notched Izod

550 J/m 10 ft-lb/in

Poisson's Ratio

0.39

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

16 MPa 2.2 x 103 psi

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature

75 °C 170 °F

Maximum Temperature: Autoignition

320 °C 610 °F

Maximum Temperature: Corrosion

70 °C 160 °F

Maximum Temperature: Decomposition

250 °C 480 °F

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

75 °C 170 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

190 °C 370 °F

Specific Heat Capacity

1400 J/kg-K 0.33 BTU/lb-°F

Thermal Conductivity

0.17 W/m-K 0.1 BTU/h-ft-°F

Thermal Expansion

160 µm/m-K

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 Hz

5.8

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)

20 kV/mm 0.78 V/mil

Electrical Dissipation At 1 Hz

0.12

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude

11 10x Ω-m

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density

1.4 g/cm3 85 lb/ft3

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)

44 %

Water Absorption After 24 Hours

0.45 %

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

0.57 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

28 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

3.2 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

10 points

Thermal Diffusivity

0.090 mm2/s

Thermal Shock Resistance

4.9 points

Followup Questions

Further Reading

Handbook of Vinyl Formulating, 2nd ed., Richard F. Grossman (editor), 2008

SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000

Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999

Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999