WHAT IS PVC?

Two components – chlorine and ethylene – are necessary to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Chlorine is produced by electrolysis of sodium salt, the natural reserves of which are almost inexhaustible. Ethylene is a product of petroleum refining (or associated gas) and consists of carbon and hydrogen. Through electrolysis a common salt solution is chemically changed to chlorine gas which interacts with ethylene to produce another gas – vinyl chloride monomer. VCM is then combined in long and solid chains forming the end product – PVC white powder. The process of transformation of vinyl chloride monomer into polyvinyl chloride is called polymerization.

57% of a PVC’s content comes from chlorine obtained from common salt, and only the rest 43% comes from oil. Natural salt reserves are almost inexhaustible and moreover renewable. Though PVC also contains nonrenewable hydrocarbon material (oil), in all less than 1% of globally produced oil is used in the PVC production. For comparison, about 35% of all produced oil is used for heating, about 30% - for transport needs and about 25% - for power generation.

PVC is the cheapest of large-tonnage polymers and even 0,5% of its cost is enough to compensate energy consumption caused by its production.

Advanced technologies of the PVC production and waste recycling are safe and prevent technogenic impact on the environment and human health.

PVC is the material of choice because:

• One day you may need blood transfusion.
• In shop you demand sterile and odorless packaging for fresh meat.
• You are used having your salary on your debit card and paying with it.
• You want to have reliable non-corrosive water supply and sewer pipes at home and easy handled hoses at your country house.
• You do not want your household appliances to break down and cause fire.
• You prefer window frames that you do not have to wad each winter and that serve three times longer than wooden ones.
• You appreciate beautiful linoleum and easy washed wallpaper at your home, clean disinfected floors, walls and furniture at hospitals and so on.