Plastic profiles (PVC, uPVC)
PVC and uPVC plastic profiles are moulded plastic products (mouldings, gaskets, cover profiles, edges, frames), which are most often produced by extrusion from polyvinyl chloride. They are one of the most widely used profiles in the construction, engineering and furniture industries.
PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride
This is a plastic that contains plasticizers (plasticizers), so the material is soft to semi-hard, flexible, elastic, very affordable.
uPVC = unplasticized PVC
= unplasticized, hard PVC, does not contain plasticizers → it is hard, strong and very dimensionally stable.
What are plastic profiles?
Description
Profiles for the construction industry form the widest group of manufactured profiles. They are most often used as concrete profiles, construction profiles (profiles for plasterboard, insulation), sealing profiles, profiles for shower enclosures, glazing profiles, profiles for residential containers, but also in the household, horticulture, furniture and various other industries (sports lines, clay, running boards, fasteners, reinforcements, caps).
Properties
Production profiles made of softened PVC withstand common weather conditions and temperatures from -30 °C to + 70 °C without changing their utility properties, however, their slow ageing occurs with prolonged exposure to the sun.
Advantages of soft PVC profiles
good flexibility
resistance to water and most chemicals
suitable for indoor and outdoor use
available in different hardnesses
Disadvantages of soft PVC
Deteriorated UV resistance (gradually hardens and degrades in the sun)
plasticizers can migrate after years → profile hardens and cracks
temperature resistance is limited (approx. -10 to +60 °C)
Advantages of uPVC
high stiffness and strength
excellent UV resistance (with suitable additives)
long service life - 20-40 years
good dimensional stability even outdoors
resistance to chemicals, lime, cement, water
Disadvantages of uPVC
not flexible (not a soft sealing material)
at very low temperatures can be more brittle
higher hardness → not suitable for seals, rather for structural profiles
Versions
They are manufactured in several basic shapes, such as square, rectangle, circular seal, intermediate ring and various special shapes. The profiles can also be produced as self-adhesive, coloured according to RAL, transparent.
Material basis
Different types of PVC granulate with a specific weight of 1.2 -1.5 g/cm3 and hardness from 40 to 90°ShD are used in production. The properties of the individual granulates vary depending on the manufacturer.
