So what exactly is PVC? PVC, short for Polyvinyl chloride, is primarily composed of polyvinyl chloride, with other components added to enhance its heat resistance, toughness, and ductility. This type of surface film has a top layer of paint, a middle layer of polyvinyl chloride as the main component, and a bottom layer of adhesive. It is a popular and widely used synthetic material worldwide, ranking second in global usage among all synthetic materials. Statistics show that in 1995 alone, PVC production in Europe reached approximately five million tons, while consumption was five million three hundred thousand tons. In Germany, the average production and consumption of PVC was one million four hundred thousand tons. PVC is being produced and used worldwide at a growth rate of 4%. The growth rate of PVC in Southeast Asia is particularly significant, thanks to the urgent need for infrastructure construction in these countries. Among materials capable of producing three-dimensional surface films, PVC is the most suitable.
PVC can be divided into flexible PVC and rigid PVC. Rigid PVC accounts for approximately two-thirds of the market, while flexible PVC accounts for one-third. Flexible PVC is generally used for flooring, ceilings, and the surface of leather. However, because it contains plasticizers (which is the difference between flexible and rigid PVC), it is prone to becoming brittle and difficult to preserve, thus limiting its applications. Rigid PVC does not contain plasticizers, therefore it has good flexibility, is easy to mold, is not brittle, is non-toxic and pollution-free, and has a long shelf life, thus possessing great development and application value. Hereinafter, it will be referred to as PVC. PVC is essentially a vacuum-formed film used for the surface packaging of various panels, hence it is also called decorative film or adhesive film, and is applied in many industries such as building materials, packaging, and pharmaceuticals. The building materials industry accounts for the largest proportion, at 60%, followed by the packaging industry, and several other smaller-scale applications.
