UPVC Full Form

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (“UPVC”) is a polyvinyl chloride compound with a relatively low or no degree of plasticization, as determined by the plasticiser content used in its manufacture. It is a white, translucent to opaque, brittle, rigid, and brittle solid that is soluble in many organic solvents, and it is used principally as a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride. UPVC is used mainly as a pipe, window, door, and roofing material in the United States, Europe, and Japan. UPVC doesn’t come in much handy in insulation, due to its low fire resistance.

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride is used to produce sheet and film products. The product is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is plastic. It can be used in a multitude of products, such as bottles, sheet and film products, pipes, wire and cable, and toys and packaging. It is available in a variety of colours and grades which are commonly named by the percentage of PVC in the product.

About Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC)

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) is a type of plastic with excellent chemical and physical properties. It has a low melting point and has good impact resistance and tensile strength, but has no resistance to heat. Though it is relatively expensive and easy to manufacture. UPVC foams and coatings are widely used in the building industry and many consumer products.

The polyvinyl chloride industry is the largest user of PVC. It is a thermoplastic material that can be used to manufacture a wide range of products. It is a moderately tough, durable material that is dependable and moderately resistant to chemicals. The material is a polymer, which means it is a plastic that can be made by polymerization.

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride is a thermoplastic material, which has been used in the manufacture of pipes, tubing and other construction applications. PVC is a solid at room temperature. 

UPVC has strong UV resistance and barrier qualities, but it has a restricted working temperature range, becoming brittle at 5 °C and having a maximum continuous usage temperature of 50 °C unless changed. Because additive-free PVC decomposes before melting, it can only be heat treated using copolymers or the inclusion of stabilisers (or by the inoculation of plasticizers which gives rise to products of different chemical and physical properties).

Advantages of using Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride UPVC

UPVC is a type of plasticized PVC pipe. It is the common type of PVC pipe used mainly for piping and not in any other heat involved systems because UPVC does not possess any resistance to heat.

1. UPVC is a material in which the plasticiser (compound) is not mixed into the vinyl chloride (or PVC) monomer. It is commonly used for construction purposes but only up to a limited extent, UPVC is also used in heavy-duty packaging.
2. It is a widely used flexible PVC material. It has many advantages over other materials such as glass fibre, steel and concrete.
3. UPVC is used in a wide range of building trades, ranging from domestic, such as cladding and insulating(electric), to the most sophisticated of buildings, such as nuclear power stations and hospital operating theatres.
4. Plastics are used in construction because they are inexpensive, strong, can be shaped, and can be moulded and formed. They are also non-corrosive and easy to clean. UPVC is most often used as cladding because it is inexpensive and non-corroding, but it is also used for internal partitions, roofs, flooring, ceilings, and skylights.

Disadvantages of unplasticised polyvinyl chloride

1. The disadvantages to using UPVC are that it is not as flexible as plasticised polyvinyl chloride which means it is not as easy to work with and is not as resistant to heat and moisture. UPVC can crack if it is not installed correctly as it is not as strong as plasticised polyvinyl chloride.UPVC also may not have the same long term properties and benefits as plasticised polyvinyl chloride.
2. The main disadvantage of UPVC is that it is very brittle and can break and split when exposed to shock or stress and cold temperature as in winters. It can also absorb water and swell when exposed to rain or snow. UPVC also has a chance of melting and shaping out in summers of high temperature.
3. UPVC should not be used for windows or doors that are placed in direct sunlight or that are subject to very high wind or weather exposure. It is also important to ensure that the UPVC is not exposed to rain or snow as it will quickly absorb the moisture and swell.
4. UPVC is more expensive and has lower chemical resistance and it requires more maintenance than PVC.

Uses and Applications of Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride

1. Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride holds a limited number of uses due to its sensitive disadvantages and inability to withstand even moderate amounts of heat and limited tensile strength.
2. Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) is very useful for applications such as windows, doors, panels, mesh pipe and insulation pipe, wire mesh, and many more. It can also be used for a variety of purposes such as cladding and electrical insulation.
3. Both UPVC and PVC are not biodegradable but UPVC is most efficient for recycling purposes.

Conclusion

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride UPVC has no plasticiser and therefore it is not the same as PVC. It is also least resistant to moisture and temperature because it contains little to no plasticiser. It is available in a wide range of colours and is relatively easy to work with making it a popular material for a variety of different applications.