Vinyl's toughness and durability make it the most widely used plastic for building and construction applications. Because it will not rust or corrode, vinyl is widely used in water pipe to deliver clean water and in sewer pipe to ensure the integrity of wastewater handling systems. Resistance to high electrical voltage and its ability to bend without cracking make it the leading material for wire and cable insulation
- Roofing Membrane
- Pipes
- Electricity cables, telephone and data cables
- Doors, windows and conservatory frames
2. Electrical products
In electrical products, plastics are mainly found in casings and cable sheathings, circuit cards, component capsules, mechanical bearing parts and moving mechanical components, such as wheels and stub shafts. Approximately four percent of plastics used in the electronic industry are PVC and it is mostly used in cable sheathings.
- TV, video, Hi- Fi
- White goods - These include washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers. PVC is commonly found in cables, shelving and door gaskets
- Lamps - Soft PVC is found in cables for light fittings
- Office equipment - In items such as computers and fax/printers plastics are mainly found in casings and cable sheathings
- Telephone - Cables are commonly made of PVC
3. Furnishing
- Carpets - Carpet tiles and mats
- Furniture - Imitation leather and furniture film are made from soft PVC
- Inflatable furniture and water beds
- Venetian blinds - These are sometimes made from unplasticised PVC (PVC-u)
4. Packaging
In packaging, vinyl helps to keep food safe and fresh during transportation and on store shelves, and provides tamper-resistant packaging for food, pharmaceuticals and other products.
- disposable bottles (for oil, mineral water, vinegar etc)
- wrapping film
- trays and boxes
- bottles and jars
- blister packaging
- transportation packaging
- the soft inlays in screw top lids and caps are often made from soft PVC and used in glass packaging for foodstuffs.
5. Clothing
PVC laminated textile is often used as a water resistant material.
- Aprons
- Shoes - such as soles, labels for logo imprints, imitation leather coatings
- Boots and waders
- Bags - often made from nylon with a PVC coating to make them waterproof
- Clothes - eg trousers and raincoats (for waterproofing )
6. Medical products
- colostomy bags
- cathetersurine bags
- infusion set and blood bags
- gloves
7. Automotive
- body side moldings
- windshield system components
- under-the-hood wiring
- under-the-car abrasion coatings
- floor mats
- dashboards and arm rests
Vinyl is used in many automotive applications because:
- Makes cars last longer - extend the lifespan of the average automobile from 11.5 years in the 1970s to 17 years today.
- Makes cars more affordable - Vinyl is cost effective
- Helps save lives - helps cushion impact during accidents, and its fire retardant capabilities improve the overall safety of the car.
- Conserves fossil fuels - The manufacture of vinyl requires comparatively low energy consumption, cutting the depletion of natural resources, and vinyl's lightness helps reduce the weight of automobiles and thus reduces fuel consumption.