Polyvinyl chloride (PVC dec, Eng. PVC) – a thermoplastic material, obtained by polymerization of vinyl chloride, ethylene chlorine substituting predominantly linear thermoplastic polymer of vinyl chloride, the formula [-CH2-CHCl-] n.

Plastic white, 6000-160 000 molecular weight, degree of crystallize of 10-35%, the density of 1,35-1,43 g/cm3 (20 ° C), physiologically harmless. PVC is strong enough (in tension Mn/m2 40-60, or 400-600 kg/cm2, bending 80-120 Mn/m2 or 800-1200 kgf/cm2), has good dielectric properties. It is partially soluble in ketones, esters, chlorinated hydrocarbons, resistant to moisture, acids, alkalis, salt solutions, industrial gases (eg, NO2, Cl2, Cl3, HF), gasoline, kerosene, grease, alcohol, combined with many plasticizers (eg, phthalates, phosphates, sebatsinates) is resistant to oxidation and virtually incombustible. PVC has a low thermal resistance (according to Martens, 50-80 ° C) when heated above 100 ° C significantly expanded with the release of HCl, as a result can acquire color (from yellow to black); expansion accelerated in the presence of O2, HCl, some salts, under UV-, b-or g-irradiation, strong mechanical impacts. To improve the heat resistance and improve the solubility of PVC. is chlorinated.

In the PVC industry receive a free radical polymerization of monomer in the mass, emulsion or suspension. The method of polymerization determines the basic properties of PVC and its use. For example, PVC, resulting in a mass or suspension is used for rigid (see vinyl), as well as semi-soft and soft, ie, plasticized (see pvc) plastics, recycled molding, injection molding, extrusion, calendering . Emulsion PVC (as paste grade) used in the manufacture of products (mainly leather and foam) of plastisols etc.

PVC – one of the most common plastics from it are more than 3000 kinds of materials and products used for different purposes in electrical engineering, light industry, food industry, heavy engineering, shipbuilding, agriculture, medicine, construction materials production.

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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is among the oldest artificial materials. It all started with the fact that in 1835 a German chemist Justus von Liebig synthesized vinyl chloride – a compound that in a hundred years to play a huge role in industry and everyday life. In 1872, German Eugen Baumann first got this polymer material – polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and in 1912 Fritz Klatte patented a method for industrial production of PVC – it is supposed to use inflammable PVC instead of flammable celluloid. The First World War prevented Fritz Klatt to undertake a detailed study of properties of PVC and its application, and production was halted. Nevertheless, Klatt is considered the founder of industrial production of PVC.

What is PVC?

The idea of replacing traditional wooden window frame on the plastic first came up with the Americans and was not adopted with enthusiasm.

Then, the innovation seemed just a whim. The practical realization of this idea into reality belongs to the Germans (the firm Trocal, 1954).

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is synthesized from petroleum products. Like many other polymers, it is very durable. He’s not afraid of sunlight or moisture, nor the natural micro-organisms or insects like Cossidae. Thanks to the special modifier for PVC window profiles – non-friable, and at the same time sufficiently rigid material. On the strength characteristics of wood it is better. Modern high-quality plastic windows can withstand frost down to -50 ° C and heat up to +60 ° C. Recently in Germany was marked by a kind of anniversary. Company – manufacturer of PVC promotional demon-
charge to replace plastic windows to one of his first clients, install them 35 years ago. How many stand for products of new generation, while no one knows. Manufacturers offer a guarantee on the profile from 15 to 20 years, but experts argue that the windows of rigid PVC in a position to save the properties, at least for 50 years. Another thing – seals. Their term of service in various companies define differently – from 4 to 15 years. Time will tell who is right. Much depends on the temperature difference in your community.
On the environmentally unfriendly plastics mentioned a lot. Yes, in their production as a catalyst using heavy metals, and in many sections of PVC in the manufacture of added lead (to make white). But today’s technology eliminates the emission of toxic substances manufactured goods (unless it is not heated to the melting temperature, which is equivalent to a fire in the room): special passivating additives make the material environmentally impeccable. Moreover, in some sections are now used instead of lead-zinc or calcium.
All brands of PVC frames are multinational and domestic hygiene certificates. With regard to environmental issues, then talking about it the facts. Better to keep heat in the house, PVC windows allow to burn much less fuel. Here we are dealing not only with the savings and natural resources, but also with a reduction in oxygen consumption, reduction of harmful substances in the air. In addition, during its existence plastic saved from cutting more than a dozen acres of forest, walking on the production of traditional wooden frames. In Germany, for example, the government even subsidizes heating holders of plastic or other windows with sealed double-glazed windows. White PVC-frame of the first issues were turning yellow when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Modern materials for window profile contains special additives that make the color does not change.
Other substances that make up the PVC, make new frame fireproof. Flame Spread Index for PVC windows is zero. In other words, to support the process of burning plastic is not. Moreover, if a fire starts in an apartment, a window should “crush” him: vacuum glazing windows new – good heat insulation, windows do not burst from the heat, the flow of oxygen does not occur, and hence the fire did not increase. PVC window profiles supplied to us from Austria, Switzerland, Britain, France, Canada and other countries, but leadership certainly remains for Germany. The Germans belong to the 90 percent of the U.S market of plastic windows (producers – Actual, Aluplast, ARreK, Brugmann, Gealan, KBE, Knipping, Plustek, Rehau, Roplasto, Schuco, Thyssen, Trocal, Veka and others). Accessories and other accessories also come from Europe, and also mostly from Germany (Aubi, Rota, Siegenia, Winkhaus). Companies are listed simply in alphabetical order, as objectively say, whose products are better, is difficult. Sometimes quite prestigious European manufacturers supply us with a simplified, cheaper options. Not so long ago appeared in U.S and its own production license. Prices of domestic goods in one and a half to two times lower. Save and you can acquire PVC in the cold season: Some companies offer discounts up to 20 percent for the inconvenience carried easily: 20-30 minutes with exposed frames. And still cheaper – does not mean better. The fact that the technology we have established lines are not always respected. License plastic can actually be environmentally friendly enough, not quite white, and unsustainable in our frosts and extreme temperatures and acid rain. Although, of course, this is not the rule. Nevertheless, many of our fellow citizens, taught by bitter experience and spooked by rumors, believe more reliable to order windows dealers proven European firms. How to distinguish their products? Very simple: the entire perimeter of the frame (by the window aperture) on each meter inside the leaf bearing the corporate logo and a sign of quality, without which, for example, Germany’s producers do not have the right to supply products. Such branded windows are not cheap, but their high cost is justified.
Seals – a tubular elastic strip or a more complex form, reaching the perimeter of the window between the frame and doors and protect against the penetration of cold air, noise and moisture. Makes them from a special rubber rezinoplastika or silicone. Sometimes the rubber for the strength of reinforced fiberglass, nylon thread or a carbon fiber Kevlar. For cold Moscow winters preferable
Silicone, he, unlike rubber does not harden in the cold. How to distinguish between them? Silicon, as a rule, light, rubber – black. Usually put two contour seal: from the street and from the premises. In the profiles of the so-called luxury is also a third path seal porch, or secondary seal. The average seal enhances sound insulation and prevents condensation from metal fittings and windows prevents the penetration of cold air through the insufficiently protected site of the loop. The third seal, of course, is desirable, but increases the cost profile and requires maximum precision during the installation: a little skewed – and one of the seals “off” from work due to gapping.
Check your windows for a long time were new, never created problems and lived happily until his half-century anniversary, it is enough to observe a few simple rules. First, you should avoid exposure to the surface profile of solid objects. Secondly, it is impossible to wash the glass with the use of solvents, concentrated acids, abrasive materials. For the processing of plastic windows used branded formulations, products for grease fittings and flexible window seals, frames should be washed foam sponges, and polishing glass – suede. Thirdly, it is not recommended to put near the glass furnaces, from which the glass can heat up to temperatures over +80 ° C.
The window profile – a rather complicated structure, which has several air chambers (usually three but sometimes four, five) separated by PVC walls. Inside the secondary camera installed metal fittings, which provides the stiffness of the frame.
Across the contour profile frames and wings held sealant. The top and bottom of the window frame milled vents for removal of condensed moisture from the interior surfaces, drainage holes, through which the leaves are caught in the rain, humidity, slots for attaching additional profiles, mechanisms of opening the valves. Multi-response profile affects the degree of insulation of windows, which is measured by the coefficient of heat transfer k, adopted in European regulations. The lower the value of this index, the better. In standard plastic windows k is 1,5. This means that in 20-degree cold room temperature with low operating heating will exceed 20 degrees Celsius. This trick made possible by the insulating properties of air, filling the three chambers profile. The more cameras the better the insulation.
And yet, to improve insulation should not bet only on the increase in the number of camera profiles, because most of the domestic heat escapes through the infrared radiation through the glass. Therefore, the choice of sealed glass units should be taken seriously.
Now manufacturers offer a window blocks of two types: American (sliding) and European (tilt-swivel).
Sliding window units are most successful with loggias and balconies. They will not take any extra centimeter square, as is the case with conventional inward-opening frames. Tilt-swivel blocks allows a shutter to swing open in two planes: the vertical loops, as in conventional windows, and horizontal, like a transom. The last option is most convenient for ventilation: not blowing.
Quality fittings of the opening allows you to adjust the uniformity of clamping doors to the frame around the perimeter, which improves heat and sound insulation.
Instead disobedient espagnolettes here used rotary knob. A special mechanism enables the valve to open in one motion in a plane, choose the mode of ventilation, to control the transom, without getting up on a chair without using a long stick or cord.
Today offers a wide selection of hand-tinted glasses (up to 20 shades). They muffle the bright sunlight.
There are also semi-transparent mirror glass, reflecting the sun’s rays and create a house cool in summer. Even if you use air conditioning, such glass will provide tangible savings of energy consumption.

The preferred tint “in mass” (ie, cast glass factory has color throughout its thickness). Other ways to colorize – coating and film coating – less reliable. Spray a few years can go ugly stains, or fade. In addition, the manufacturing period of ordered double-glazed and tinted increases for the week.
To protect your home from intruders into the home through a window, has long produced laminated safety glass. It is modeled on the principle of the car: two or more glass sandwiching a special solid film. The more layers, the higher the reliability. Triplex can crack, but still stand. There are windows with a hardening film. It is much thinner triplex, but the strength she does not agree. Resistant depending on the thickness of several blows with a sledgehammer. The thicker the film, so it is stronger.
In the modern plastic frame placed only sealed windows of one, two, three or even four glasses.
The composition and thickness of the insulating glass units vary widely. The most common format suitable for our climate – 24-millimeter single-chamber. Their formula is: 4-16-4. This means that two glass thickness of 4 mm with a spacing of 16 mm connected to the monolith, which runs along the perimeter of a thin, perforated aluminum frame filled with silicate gel or other desiccants. The gel absorbs residual moisture of air between the panes, protecting them from sweating. Discover more moisture there will not be because the entire block with the ends filled with silicone sealant.
The most popular formula of double-glass: 4-6-4-6-4, then there are three glass thickness of 4 mm separated by gaps of 6 mm. For tamper-proof outer pane sometimes make 6 mm thick: this is very difficult to break. Single-chamber 24-mm glass reduces sound pressure level (noise level) for at least 20-25 dB. Because decibels are subject to a logarithmic scale, reduced noise by 10 dB, there is the ear as the volume down by half. Double-glass makes the external noise at 40-42 dB quieter.
Insulation in this case, too, is improving. To characterize the degree of insulation of windows, we used the coefficient of heat transfer resistance (inverse of the coefficient of heat transfer). In sealed glass units, he now makes 0,34-0,37 (the more the better). This means that when the outside temperature is -26 ° C temperature of the glass from the room will be +5 ° C.
For insulating glass is used the best polished plate glass. Through his look, without feeling the barriers as if the frames do not have glasses. It is pleasant for the most part is glass – domestic production, from the city Borsk. But there are more expensive double-glazed windows of the English, French, Czech glass. Fine polishing of glass makes it much stronger. After all, the glass breaks on impact, where there are irregularities, scratches, bubbles.
In a closed sealed space between panes is rarefied air, which improves sound and heat insulation, or an inert gas (eg argon). Some believe that the inert gas in the double-glazed windows, an expensive luxury. In fact, more dense than air, argon, along with glass creates a layered environment, from which the laws of acoustics is reflected
most of the sound waves. The coefficient of heat transfer resistance in this case, too, increases by about 0.03 and reaches approximately 0.39. That is when the outside temperature is -26 ° C temperature of glass from the room will be already +7′ C.
The outer side of glass, some companies recently made of the so-called K-glass British firm Pilkington – low-emission energy-saving glass coated metal. It prevents the emission of heat from inside out and can even in cold climates do thinner monogastric Fiberglass.
The coefficient of heat transfer resistance of such energy-saving glass without filling an inert gas – 0.56 units (temperature of glass from the room +14,5 ° C), and an inert gas – 0.67 units (internal temperature of +16 ° C). K-glass, gas filling solve the problem of “crying” windows, and not only. Another interesting feature of energy-saving glass – the ability to reflect infrared rays of the sun, keeping the room cool in the summer heat.