Unplasticized (Rigid) Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC, PVC-U)
UPVC is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyvinyl plastic. It has a moderately low heat capacity among thermoplastics. In addition, it has a moderately high ductility and a moderately low tensile strength. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare uPVC 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
3.7 GPa 0.54 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
58 %
Flexural Modulus
3.5 GPa 0.51 x 106 psi
Flexural Strength
80 MPa 12 x 103 psi
Impact Strength: Notched Izod
360 J/m 6.8 ft-lb/in
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
47 MPa 6.7 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature
85 °C 190 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
69 °C 160 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 455 kPa (66 psi)
90 °C 190 °F
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition
400 °C 740 °F
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition
270 °C 520 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
95 °C 200 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
180 °C 350 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
880 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
0.16 W/m-K 0.093 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
61 µm/m-K
Vicat Softening Temperature
83 °C 180 °F
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 Hz
3.4
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)
19 kV/mm 0.74 V/mil
Electrical Dissipation At 1 Hz
0.013
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude
15 10x Ω-m
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Density
1.4 g/cm3 88 lb/ft3
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)
42 %
Water Absorption After 24 Hours
0.24 %
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
1.5 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
37 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
9.1 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
20 points
Thermal Diffusivity
0.13 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
15 points
Followup Questions
Further Reading
ISO 1163: Plastics - Unplasticized Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC-U) Moulding and Extrusion Materials
ASTM D1784: Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Compounds and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds
Handbook of Vinyl Formulating, 2nd ed., Richard F. Grossman (editor), 2008
ASTM D883: Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
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
CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook, 4th ed., James F. Shackelford et al. (editors), 2015