Why Is PVC So Popular?

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is now one of the most widely used materials in construction. Its resistance to light, chemicals and abrasions, combined with its low price and excellent durability, make it an attractive material for all surfaces.

It is one of the oldest synthetic materials in the world

PVC was first accidentally synthesized by two scientists on two different occasions, French physicist and chemist Henri Victor Regnault in 1838 and German chemist Eugen Baumann in 1872. Interestingly, neither of them patented their invention.

Fast forward to 1913, when German scientist Friedrich Klatte invented a new method of polymerizing vinyl chloride using sunlight. Unlike his predecessors, he patented his invention. However, PVC was very difficult to process at the time, which led to no one being able to find a commercial application for it.

Things changed in 1926 when Waldo Semon came on the scene. Semon tried to bond rubber to metal and succeeded in inventing plasticized polyvinyl chloride.

Rigid or flexible

The most versatile plastic in the world is marked with the number 3 on plastic containers. By the way, there are 7 different types of plastic: PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS and others.

PVC can be rigid, a form that is widely used in the construction industry to produce door and window profiles and pipes.

Or it can be flexible, in this softer state it will be applied to pipes, wires, cable insulation and flooring.

Vinyl flooring, always a popular choice

Since its discovery, until World War II, vinyl flooring has been a scarce commodity. After the war, vinyl flooring became increasingly popular, replacing previous materials such as linoleum. As servicemen returned home and bought new homes, the demand for vinyl flooring soared.

In the 1960s, designs were updated and improved, such as "no-wax finishes" or vinyl with padding. In the 1970s, trends showed a strong preference for imitation wood patterns, so a new product appeared: vinyl plank flooring that imitates wood.

The fact that vinyl flooring has always been cheaper than real wood, and its very durable surface makes it suitable for use in moisture-prone areas such as bathrooms or basements, has ensured that they have never gone out of style, until today.