About Foam PVC
Foam PVC combines low density with high rigidity and good sound and heat insulation.
It offers several distinct advantages over solid PVC sheets – including being approximately half the weight, a more effective thermal insulator, easier to handle, vibration and oscillation absorbent, and more cost-effective per unit area.
It is used for advertising signs and displays, in construction, and for many miscellaneous applications such as transport containers and model making.
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History
1835 – PVC is discovered by accident by Henri Victor Regnault after exposing vinyl chloride to sunlight. It would be re-discovered in 1872 by Eugen Baumann
1930s – The first PVC foam material designed for a marine environment, consisting of a PVC and isocyanate blend, is created in Germany. It is rumoured that it was used in German E-boats and the Bismarck battleship
Applications
Foam PVC offers excellent processing qualities in addition to light weight, high rigidity, moisture resistance, and low flammability. It is used for the following:
- Advertising: Foam PVC is used by advertisers for signs, displays and exhibition stands, and as photograph backing
- Insulation material: Foam PVC provides excellent heat and sound insulation and is used as sub-frame material in double-glazed windows
- Construction: Partitions, wall cladding, facades, interior decoration and air-conditioning ducts are constructed from foam PVC, which can be painted, printed, engraved or milled to specification
- Shop fitting: Shop counter designs incorporate foam PVC, which is also used to make decorative wall panels
Foam PVC is also used for transport containers and in model-making, where it is popular for being easy to cut, shape and paint.
Key Properties
General
Density relative to water (=1), 0.75
Water absorption (24 hrs), 0.50% – 0.80%
Thermal
Thermal Conductivity, 0.06 W/mK
Vicat Softening Temperature, 75°C (167°F)
Mechanical
Tensile Modulus of Elasticity, 1300 MPa
Tensile Strength at Break, 20%
Yield Stress, 20 MPa
