Editing Polyvinyl chloride (section)

==Applications==
[[File:Laying sewer hi res (2).jpg|thumb|PVC is used extensively in sewage pipes due to its low cost, chemical resistance and ease of jointing|left]]

===Pipes===
Roughly half of the world's PVC resin manufactured annually is used for producing [[Plastic pipework|pipe]]s for municipal and industrial applications.<ref>{{cite conference|author = Rahman, Shah|date = 19–20 June 2007|title= PVC Pipe & Fittings: Underground Solutions for Water and Sewer Systems in North America| conference = 2nd Brazilian PVC Congress, Sao Paulo, Brazil|url=http://www.institutodopvc.org/congresso2/ShahRahman.pdf|access-date = 28 February 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150709034844/http://www.institutodopvc.org/congresso2/ShahRahman.pdf
| archive-date = 9 July 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> In the private homeowner market, it accounts for 66% of the household market in the US, and in household sanitary sewer pipe applications, it accounts for 75%.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070822041842/http://vinylbydesign.com/site/page.asp?CID=14&DID=15 Uses for vinyl: pipe]. vinylbydesign.com</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author = Rahman, Shah
| date = October 2004|title = Thermoplastics at Work: A Comprehensive Review of Municipal PVC Piping Products|journal = Underground Construction|pages = 56–61|url = https://www.scribd.com/document/398987949/Thermoplastics-At-Work-Comprehensive-Review-of-Municipal-PVC-Pipe-Products|format = PDF|access-date = 5 February 2019|archive-date = 7 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200807004043/https://www.scribd.com/document/398987949/Thermoplastics-At-Work-Comprehensive-Review-of-Municipal-PVC-Pipe-Products|url-status = live}}</ref> Buried PVC pipes in both water and sanitary sewer applications that are 100&nbsp;mm (4&nbsp;in) in diameter and larger are typically joined by means of a gasket-sealed joint. The most common type of gasket utilized in North America is a metal-reinforced elastomer, commonly referred to as a Rieber sealing system.<ref>{{cite journal| author = Shah Rahman| date = April 2007| title = Sealing Our Buried Lifelines| journal =  Opflow| volume = 33| issue = 4| pages = 12–17| doi = 10.1002/j.1551-8701.2007.tb02753.x| bibcode = 2007Opflo..33d..12R| url = http://www.hultec.co.za/downloads/Buried_lifelines.pdf| access-date = 30 March 2010| archive-date = 8 October 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111008190036/http://www.hultec.co.za/downloads/buried_lifelines.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Electric cables===
PVC is often used as the [[Insulator (electricity)|insulating]] sheath on [[electrical cable]]s. PVC is chosen because of its good electrical insulation, ease of [[extrusion]], and resistance to burn.<ref name="titow717">{{harvnb|Titow|1984|p=717}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=N79YwkVx4kwC&dq=%3D%22PVC+coating+of+wire%22&pg=PA717 PVC coating of wire and cable]</ref>

In a fire, PVC can form [[hydrogen chloride]] fumes; the chlorine serves to scavenge [[free radical]]s, making PVC-coated wires [[fire retardant]]. While hydrogen chloride fumes can also pose a [[health hazard]] in their own right, it dissolves in moisture and breaks down onto surfaces, particularly in areas where the air is cool enough to breathe, so would not be inhaled.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1002/fam.810150405 | vauthors = Galloway FM, Hirschler MM, Smith GF | year = 1992 | title = Surface parameters from small-scale experiments used for measuring HCl transport and decay in fire atmospheres |journal = Fire Mater | volume = 15 | issue = 4| pages = 181–189}}</ref>

===Construction===
[[File:Builder's tudorbethan.jpg|thumb|right|"A modern [[Tudor Revival architecture|Tudorbethan]]" house with uPVC gutters and [[downspout]]s, [[Fascia (architecture)|fascia]], decorative imitation "[[half-timber]]ing", windows, and doors]]

PVC is widely and heavily used in construction and building industry,<ref name=ullmannPVC/> For example, [[vinyl siding]] is extensively is a popular low-maintenance material, particularly in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The material comes in a range of colors and finishes, including a photo-effect wood finish, and is used as a substitute for painted wood, mostly for window frames and [[sill plate|sill]]s when installing [[insulated glazing]] in new buildings; or to replace older single-glazed windows, as it does not decompose and is weather-resistant. Other uses include [[Fascia (architecture)|fascia]], and [[Siding (construction)|siding]] or [[weatherboarding]]. This material has almost entirely replaced the use of [[cast iron]] for [[plumbing]] and [[drainage]], being used for waste pipes, drainpipes, [[rain gutter|gutter]]s and [[downspout]]s. PVC is known as having strong resistance against chemicals, sunlight, and oxidation from water.<ref>Strong, A. Brent (2005) ''Plastics: Materials and Processing''.  Prentice Hall. pp. 36–37, 68–72. {{ISBN|0131145584}}.</ref>
[[File:Double glazed Units.JPG|thumb|Double glazed units|left]]

===Signage and graphics===
Polyvinyl chloride is formed in flat sheets in a variety of thicknesses and colors. As flat sheets, PVC is often expanded to create voids in the interior of the material, providing additional thickness without additional weight and minimal extra cost (see [[closed-cell PVC foamboard]]). Sheets are cut using saws and rotary cutting equipment.

Plasticized PVC is also used to produce thin, colored, or clear, [[adhesive]]-backed films referred to simply as "vinyl". These films are typically cut on a [[computer]]-controlled [[plotter]] (see [[vinyl cutter]]) or printed in a [[wide-format printer]]. These sheets and films are used to produce a wide variety of [[commercial signage]] products,  [[Wrap advertising|vinyl wraps]] or [[racing stripe]]s on vehicles for aesthetics or as [[wrap advertising]], and general purpose [[sticker]]s.<ref name="Ellis">{{cite web | url=https://www.greendotsign.com/gdsnews/vinyl-an-honest-conversation/ | title=Vinyl: an Honest Conversation | last=Ellis | first=R | access-date=3 June 2020 | archive-date=28 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128063425/https://www.greendotsign.com/gdsnews/vinyl-an-honest-conversation/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Clothing ===
[[File:Men's black PVC pants 01.jpg|thumb|right|Black PVC trousers]]
{{Main|PVC clothing}}
[[PVC fabric]] is [[water-resistant]], used for its weather-resistant qualities in coats, skiing equipment, shoes, [[jacket]]s, and [[apron]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PVC POLY VINYL CHLORIDE PLASTICS |url=https://www.blue-growth.org/Plastics_Waste_Toxins_Pollution/PVC_Poly_Vinyl_Chloride_Plastics.htm |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.blue-growth.org}}</ref> The shoulders of [[donkey jacket]]s are traditionally made out of PVC. Early [[high visibility clothing]] was also made of PVC

=== Healthcare ===
The two main application areas for [[disposable|single-use]] medically approved PVC compounds are flexible containers and tubing: containers used for blood and blood components, for urine collection or for ostomy products and tubing used for blood taking and blood giving sets, catheters, heart-lung bypass sets, hemodialysis sets etc. In Europe the consumption of PVC from medical devices is approximately 85,000 tons each year. Almost one third of plastic-based medical devices are made from PVC.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150607064149/http://www.pvcmed.org/learning-centre/pvc-medical-applications/ PVC Healthcare Applications]. pvcmed.org</ref>

=== Food packaging ===
PVC has been applied to various items such as: bottles,<ref name="Marsh2007"/> [[packaging]] films,<ref name="Marsh2007"/>  [[blister pack]]s,<ref name="Marsh2007"/>  [[cling wrap]]s,<ref name="Marsh2007">{{Cite journal |title=Food Packaging – Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues |journal=[[Journal of Food Science]] |url=https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x |last1=Marsh |first1=Kenneth |date=2007-03-31 |issue=3 |volume=72 |last2=Bigusu |first2=Betty |doi=10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x |page=R43 |pmid=17995809 |issn=1750-3841}}</ref> and seals on metal lids.

=== Wire rope ===
PVC may be [[Extrusion coating|extruded]] under pressure to encase [[wire rope]] and aircraft cable used for general purpose applications. PVC coated wire rope is easier to handle, resists corrosion and abrasion, and may be color-coded for increased visibility. It is found in a variety of industries and environments both indoor and out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lexcocable.com/vinyl-and-nylon-coated-cables.html|title=Coated Aircraft Cable & Wire Rope|publisher=Lexco Cable|language=en|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826032003/http://www.lexcocable.com/vinyl-and-nylon-coated-cables.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other uses ===
[[File:12in-Vinyl-LP-Record-Angle.jpg|left|thumb|A [[vinyl record]].]]
Molded PVC is used to produce [[Phonograph record|phonograph, or "vinyl", records]]. PVC piping is a cheaper alternative to metal tubing used in musical instrument making; it is therefore a common alternative when making wind instruments, often for leisure or for rarer instruments such as the [[contrabass flute]]. An instrument that is almost exclusively built from PVC tube is the [[thongophone]], a percussion instrument that is played by slapping the open tubes with a [[Flip-flops|flip-flop]] or similar.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150704042228/http://devices.natetrue.com/pvc/pvc.htm Building a PVC Instrument]. natetrue.com</ref> PVC is also used as a raw material in automotive underbody coating.<ref>{{cite book | chapter-url=https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2002-01-0293/ | doi=10.4271/2002-01-0293 | chapter=Post PVC Sound Insulating Underbody coating | title=SAE Technical Paper Series | year=2002 | last1=Takata | first1=Ayumi | last2=Ohashi | first2=Yutaka | volume=1 }}</ref>