How is uPVC Made?

PVC is one of the world’s oldest plastics and has evolved since the 1040’s to become a universally used, cost effective, adaptable, safe and environmentally efficient material.   It represents a highly efficient conversion of raw materials.   Effectively, salt and oil derivatives are combined to produce a plastic material which is specified for a broad range of applications cross various market sectors.

The production process starts with sodium chloride, (common salt) from which chlorine gas is obtained by electrolysis.   Petroleum or natural gas is used to produce ethylene, one of many products of the process known as cracking.   Bringing together chlorine and ethylene, liquid vinyl chloride (VC) is produced which is immediately changed in the process by polymerisation into polyvinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride is toxic and therefore a closed production process is used producing PVC as a white power that is chemically stable.