Polyvinylchloride windows

The major use of vinyl chloride (also known as vinyl chloride monomer, VCM) is in the production of the ubiquitous plastic, PVC or polyvinylchloride, which began to be used in the 1940s. This polymer is used in a wide variety of products ranging from cling film, bottles, car components, pipes, electrical insulation, and window frames. Unfortunately, vinyl chloride, which is used to make the plastic, is a hazardous chemical. For this reason and because PVC is an organochlorine compound, it has received a bad press. It has important properties, however, such as flexibility, toughness, and durability, that make it an extremely useful and versatile material. 

Practice for performing accelerated outdoor weathering of nonmetallic materials using concentrated natural sunlight. Unplasticised polyvinylchloride (PVC-U) profiles for the construction of windows determination of the resistance to artificial weathering. 

Figure 12.8. Examples of constitutional repeating units that form important polymers. Top row units containing only C and H atoms, polyethylene (PE, used in film, bottles, cups, electrical insulation), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS, used in coffee cups, packaging). Bottom row units containing other atoms as well, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, used in transparent sheets, aircraft windows), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyethyleneoxide (PEG).

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