The choice between PVC and rubber depends on your needs and applications. Both offer various advantages due to their unique features but have some limitations. In this blog, we will compare PVC and rubber. This comparison will help you choose between both materials with confidence.
What is PVC?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a widely used synthetic plastic polymer thermoplastic material. It has unique features like easy processing, affordability, and lightweight. These versatile properties make it suitable for construction, insulation, medical devices, pipes, etc.
Properties and Characteristics
PVC is a versatile with the following properties and characteristics:
- This white solid powder can stick to metal surfaces and not dissolve in hydrocarbon solutions.
- PVC’s melting point is about 100 °C. It reaches the glass transition at 80 °C. This high melting point enables it to withstand extreme conditions.
- It is a lightweight but tough material with 1.3 to 1.45 g/cm³ density. PVC offers durability, strength, and flexibility.
- PVC is an excellent insulator that prevents electricity from passing through. That’s why it is one of the best materials for insulating electrical wires.
- It is weather, corrosion, and chemical-resistant. The shock and abrasion-resistant qualities make it the best choice for outdoor activities like water pipes and PVC flooring.
Applications
The wide range of uses makes PVC ideal for various industries. The applications of PVC are:
- This synthetic material has applications in the construction industry. The applications include fittings, frames, PVC flooring, pipes, and PVC soles. PVC is cheaper than synthetic rubber or latex.
- Another application of PVC is its use for making packaging materials. It is flexible and transparent, which makes it best for preserving and protecting different materials and products.
- It is excellent for insulating wires and cables. The moisture and chemical-resistance properties protect electrical wires from damage.
- PVC plays an important part in the automated industry. Manufacturers use it to make various components due to impact-resistant quality and durability. These include dashboard covers, door panels, flooring, and wire harnesses.
- Synthetic plastics like PVC have various uses in the medical field, such as making medical tubing, medical devices, blood bags, and more. Their flexibility and easy-to-mold features suit these applications.
- PVC is easy to mold into different shapes and colors. It makes various consumer goods, including shoes, toys, work boots, household items, inflatable structures, and flooring.
Advantages and Limitations
PVC has become an integral part of various industries due to its versatility. It offers advantages but also has limitations.
Advantages
PVC brings the following advantages:
- Versatile: It is waterproof and weather-resistant. That makes it suitable for outdoor activities like furniture or garden fencing. Its lightweight property gives it extra marks to use for various applications!
- Fire Resistant: PVC is inherently fire resistant because it contains about 50% chlorine. On exposing PVC to fire, thermal cracking produces hydrogen gas and makes an outer layer. This process slows the burning process down.
- Availability: It is cheaper than the other materials. That’s why it is a budget-friendly option for matting. The best thing about PVC is that it is available in various colors, shapes, and textures. It increases its application criteria according to individual needs.
- Chemical Resistant: PVC is highly resistant to chemicals, acids, and oxidizing agents. This property makes it perfect for chemical storage tanks and piping.
- Abrasion Resistant: The excellent tensile strength gives PVC abrasion resistance and toughness. Due to these properties, it has become a popular choice for underground piping.
Limitations
PVC has various advantages but with some limitations. These limitations are:
- Difficult to Recycle: It can not easily recycled due to its complex composition. PVC contains plasticizers. They become very toxic if you want to recycle them. So, recycling PVC is costly and not environmentally friendly.
- Harmful for the Environment: PVC releases harmful substances like hydrochloric acid while recycling. It can have serious health and environmental impacts from production to disposal.
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What is Rubber?
Rubber is a polymer that is easy to shrink and stretch. It naturally comes from rubber trees, creating a milky fluid from wood called latex. That’s why it is also named as latex. Moreover, it is best for various applications in daily use and gadget manufacturing.
Properties and Characteristics
Natural or synthetic rubber offers numerous uses to various industries due to their unique properties. These properties and characteristics are below:
- It occurs naturally soft with the most significant elastic properties. It returns to its original shape without deforming upon stretching. This quality makes it perfect for applications requiring flexibility without compromising strength.
- Rubber matting is excellently resistant to wear and abrasion. Its shock absorption power prevents friction’s impact. These qualities make it perfect for manufacturing components that face consistent wear. Examples include work boots, shoes, soles, tires, rubber flooring, and matting.
- Another amazing characteristic of natural rubber is its high resistance to chemicals and other solvents. It is ideal for manufacturing gloves and chemical tubes.
- It is a great insulator. The resistance against electricity makes it the best insulator for wires and cables. It helps prevent short circuits and electrical shocks.
- Natural material rubber can withstand -100 °C and up to 250 °C higher temperatures. It is best for manufacturing seals, soles, and automotive gaskets.
Applications
It is famous for its elasticity and durability against low and high temperatures. These features make it excellent for various applications, including:
- The resistance to temperature and friction makes it the perfect choice for tires, soles, gaskets, and rubber seals.
- It carries excellent waterproof and oil-resistance properties. These properties make it ideal for rubber matting, rubber flooring, sealant, and floor covering compared to other synthetic rubber.
- It is popular for insulation in the electronic industry due to its flexibility and easy molding properties. It is widely used to insulate components and cables to ensure electrical safety.
- Elasticity and easy molding technique make it best for making gloves, pipes, and other pharmaceutical devices.
- It is highly resistant to chemicals and solvents. So, it is best to manufacture chemical containers, pipes, and other chemical-handling objects.
Advantages and Limitations
Advantages
- Durable: It is more durable than other synthetic materials. On top of that, it also requires low maintenance and is flexible. This makes it an easy-to-install natural product.
- Slip Resistant: It provides friction in wet conditions. The slip-resistant quality makes it perfect for manufacturing tires, shoe soles, and work boots to increase safety.
- Shock-Resistant: Rubber soles or shoes can absorb impact while walking and keep feet dry. Rubber tires are also the best example of their shock-absorbing and impact-absorbing features.
- Reduce Noise: Rubber flooring creates less noise than the other options, making it better for mating. However, the noise-controlling ability depends on the thickness of the rubber matting.
- Insulating Properties: It offers excellent insulation against high and low temperatures, electricity, and water.
Limitations
Here are some potential weak spots of natural rubber:
- Expensive: Synthetic rubbers are usually expensive. However, the price may vary according to its thickness and quality.
- Decoloration: Over time, it may fade in color and cannot withstand liquids like oil, grease, and detergents. It may swell and damage if prone to these liquids for a long time.
- Smell: Newly bought rubber matting may have a distinctive smell. It can cause allergies for some consumers. Although it may fade with time, it still causes discomfort.
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PVC VS. Rubber: Key Differences
Here are some differences between PVC and rubber, let’s take a look!
| Feature | PVC | Rubber |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Polyvinyl Chloride | Natural or Synthetic Rubber |
| Flexibility | Generally stiff | Highly flexible |
| Durability | Moderate | High |
| Resistance | Resistant to chemicals, oils, weathering | Excellent resistance to abrasion, tearing, chemicals |
| Temperature | Limited temperature range (-10°C to 60°C) | Wide temperature range (-50°C to 100°C) |
| Cost | Relatively inexpensive | More expensive |
| Applications | Pipes, cables, flooring | Seals, gaskets, hoses, tires |
1. Material
The main difference is the material. PVC consists of white powder, which is lightweight and durable. While rubber comes from a natural source. It is slightly heavier, flexible, and comfortable.
2. Environmental Impact
Rubber is a natural material that is biodegradable and may have less environmental impact. However, PVC may not degrade over time and may cause serious issues. It can pollute the environment and disrupt natural ecosystems.
3. Resistance
Rubber has excellent slip-resistant and waterproof qualities. On the other hand, PVC is excellent fire-resistant due to its high chlorine content. Each has its advantages regarding specific resistance in a given condition.
4. Decoloration
PVC will not decolorize even if it is prone to chemicals and other solvents. However, rubber may decolorize when it is prone to oil, grease, and other harsh solvents for a long time.
5. Price
PVC is a more affordable option than rubber. However, the final price might vary depending on the grade and thickness of the materials.
Selection Considerations
PVC and rubber offer different benefits and are best for various industrial and daily applications. Both are used in the construction, automotive, and electrical industries. They are known for their durability, ease of use, and flexibility.
But which one should you choose for the best results?
It only depends on your needs. If you are looking for an affordable option, PVC is the best option. It is more cost-effective than natural rubber. However, it is also important to know that PVC may cause serious environmental impacts as it cannot degrade with time.
Both materials have different applications, needs, and budgets. So before making any decision, it is good to consult with professionals to make an informed decision.
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Conclusion
PVC vs. rubber, which one to choose is ultimately a call based on the application. Both offer various benefits for different industrial applications, from weight to flexibility and durability. Rubber and PVC have many similarities, as they are the best insulators, perfect for automotive parts, and provide durability.
However, key differences like slip resistance, fire resistance, and, more importantly, the price difference set them apart. Both are good, but the choice is only yours. So choose which meets your needs and requirements.
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