PVC-P
ISO 1043 PVC-P
PVC-P is plasticized polyvinyl chloride: PVC resin compounded with phthalate or non-phthalate plasticizers, per ASTM D2287, in Shore A 60–90 hardness steps plus FR-V0, HT105, LT, non-phthalate, MED, FOOD, UV, clear and foam versions.
Reference datasheet — PVC-P is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the SHA80 condition
PVC-P grades and fills
PVC-P is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. SHA80 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cellular / foamed flexible PVC | Pick for weather-strip, sponge gaskets and cushioned profiles where compressibility and low weight matter. | 4 | 180 | 10 Shore D | |
Clear / transparent unfilled compound | Pick for sight-glass tubing, transparent hose and flexible windows where flow visibility is required. | 8 | 16 | 320 | 28 Shore D |
Shore A 60 | Pick for very flexible tubing, soft hose and lay-flat film where drape matters more than strength. | 11 | 400 | 15 Shore D | |
Shore A 70 | Pick for flexible cable jackets, gaskets and clear tubing needing a balance of softness and tear strength. | 13 | 350 | 22 Shore D | |
Low-temperature grade | Pick for outdoor cords, refrigeration hose and cold-climate seals needing flexibility below −30 °C. | 13 | 350 | 23 Shore D | |
flame-retardant / low-smoke compound | Pick for building wire, appliance cords and rail/transport parts needing UL 94 V-0 and reduced smoke. | 14 | 230 | 34 Shore D | |
SHA80Default Shore A 80 | Default flexible PVC: wire insulation, hose, profiles and moulded plugs; best all-round property/price balance. | 16 | 300 | 30 Shore D | |
Non-phthalate (DOTP/DINCH) plasticized | Pick where REACH/RoHS phthalate restrictions apply — toys, consumer cords, food-contact and EU market goods. | 16 | 300 | 30 Shore D | |
105 °C heat-stabilized cable grade | Pick for automotive and appliance wiring rated 105 °C; uses trimellitate/polymeric plasticizer and boosted stabilizer. | 18 | 250 | 38 Shore D | |
Shore A 90 | Pick for semi-rigid profiles, edge banding, shoe soles and stiff hose where shape retention is needed. | 22 | 240 | 40 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PVC-P is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FOOD | Food-contact grade | Certification |
MED | Medical / DEHP-free grade | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable outdoor grade | Grade option |
What is PVC-P?
PVC-P is plasticized polyvinyl chloride: PVC resin compounded with phthalate or non-phthalate plasticizers, per ASTM D2287, in Shore A 60–90 hardness steps plus FR-V0, HT105, LT, non-phthalate, MED, FOOD, UV, clear and foam versions. It is chosen for flexibility, dielectric strength and low cost, mostly as extruded cable insulation and jacketing, tubing, and calendered film and sheet. The default compound gives 16 MPa tensile strength, 300 % elongation, 0.025 GPa modulus and about 70 °C maximum service temperature. Plasticizer migration and HCl release on overheating are the main limits; TPE or TPU is the usual alternative. PVC-P has a density of 1.25 g/cm³ (0.0452 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -10°C (14 °F). PVC-P has a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi), weaker than 72% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.03 GPa (0.0036 Msi).
What is PVC-P used for?
- Electrical wire & cable insulation/jacketing
- Flexible tubing and hose
- Vinyl flooring and film/sheet
- Inflatable products and gaskets
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 92/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.7 kg CO₂/kg, better than 87% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 300%, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 77% of polymer grades
PVC-P properties
Typical room-temperature values for PVC-P-SHA80; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PVC-P has a density of 1.25 g/cm³ (0.0452 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -10°C (14 °F).
Mechanical10
PVC-P has a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi), weaker than 72% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.03 GPa (0.0036 Msi).
Thermal9
PVC-P is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 150 µm/m·K (83.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PVC-P is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 56% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PVC-P takes about 68 MJ of energy and emits 2.7 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability7
PVC-P's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (92/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PVC-P is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PVC-P
Is PVC-P easy to machine?
Machinable but gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high rake angles, generous chip clearance and low cutting speed with air cooling; die-cutting, slitting and waterjet are usually preferred over milling.
Can PVC-P be welded?
Excellent high-frequency (dielectric) and hot-air/hot-wedge weldability due to the polar C–Cl bond; solvent bonding with THF/MEK cements and hot-plate welding also work; avoid overheating, which liberates HCl.
Can PVC-P be formed, bent or molded?
Extruded, calendered, injection or dip-molded at 155–195 °C melt with mold 20–55 °C; keep residence time short and use stainless or hard-chromed, well-vented tooling since degradation releases corrosive HCl.
PVC-P chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| plasticizer (DINP/DOP/DOTP/DINCH/trimelltypically 30–60 phr; sets hardness and Tg | 20 – 45 | 30 |
| filler (CaCO3)cost/stiffness modifier | 0 – 25 | 5 |
| heat stabilizer (Ca-Zn, Ba-Zn or organot | 1 – 5 | 2.5 |
| lubricant / processing aid | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.6 |
| flame retardant / smoke suppressant (Sb2only in FR grades | 0 – 10 | 0 |
| pigment / UV stabilizer | 0 – 3 | 1 |
| PVC resin (polyvinyl chloride, K65–K70)suspension resin, K-value chosen by process | ≥ 50 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PVC-P?
Accepts embossing, printing with PVC-compatible inks and lacquer topcoats; surfaces should be cleaned of plasticizer bloom before bonding, and plasticizer migration must be checked against adjacent paints, PC/ABS parts and elastomers.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PVC-P in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 1043 PVC-P
- Also called
- Flexible PVC
- Similar grades
- D2287
How much does PVC-P cost?
PVC-P is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PVC-P — frequently asked
What is PVC-P used for?
PVC-P is typically used for electrical wire & cable insulation/jacketing, flexible tubing and hose, vinyl flooring and film/sheet and inflatable products and gaskets. In short: flexible, RF-weldable PVC; low-cost cable insulation; 300 % elongation.
What is the tensile strength of PVC-P?
PVC-P has a typical tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) — weaker than 72% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is PVC-P easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades). Machinable but gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high rake angles, generous chip clearance and low cutting speed with air cooling; die-cutting, slitting and waterjet are usually preferred over milling.
Can PVC-P be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent high-frequency (dielectric) and hot-air/hot-wedge weldability due to the polar C–Cl bond; solvent bonding with THF/MEK cements and hot-plate welding also work; avoid overheating, which liberates HCl.
What surface finishes work on PVC-P?
Accepts embossing, printing with PVC-compatible inks and lacquer topcoats; surfaces should be cleaned of plasticizer bloom before bonding, and plasticizer migration must be checked against adjacent paints, PC/ABS parts and elastomers.
Can PVC-P be formed, bent or molded?
Extruded, calendered, injection or dip-molded at 155–195 °C melt with mold 20–55 °C; keep residence time short and use stainless or hard-chromed, well-vented tooling since degradation releases corrosive HCl.
What is the maximum service temperature of PVC-P?
PVC-P is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 100°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PVC-P SHA80 and PVC-P CLR?
SHA80 is the default condition — default flexible PVC: wire insulation, hose, profiles and moulded plugs; best all-round property/price balance. CLR: pick for sight-glass tubing, transparent hose and flexible windows where flow visibility is required.
How much does PVC-P cost?
PVC-P is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM D2287 — Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Polymer and Copolymer Molding and Extrusion Compounds — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM D638 / D2240 / D624 test methods for tensile, durometer and tear — ASTM International (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector plasticized PVC compound datasheets — CWFG / UL (2024)
- Flexible PVC cable and tubing compound datasheets (Teknor Apex, Benvic, Sylvin) — various compounders (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.