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