PVC-U
ISO 1043 PVC-U
PVC-U is unplasticized (rigid) polyvinyl chloride specified as ASTM D1784 Class 12454, with NAT, high-impact, clear, UV, foam, GF20, ESD and FDA variants on file.
Reference datasheet — PVC-U 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.
PVC-U grades and fills
PVC-U is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rigid PVC foam sheet | Lightweight, easily routed/screen-printed board for signage, displays, furniture cores and non-structural panels. | 14 | 12 | 55 Shore D | |
Impact-modified | Pick where cold-weather handling, buried pipe, machined parts or thick welded fabrications need much higher notched toughness. | 45 | 60 | 78 Shore D | |
Antistatic / ESD-conductive PVC sheet | Specify for fume-hood, electronics-handling or explosion-risk fabrications where charge must be dissipated. | 45 | 45 | 15 | 80 Shore D |
Glass-fibre reinforced rigid PVC | Niche grade for moulded parts needing higher stiffness, lower creep and reduced thermal expansion than plain PVC-U. | 75 | 3 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PVC-U is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDA | Food-contact / potable-water grade | Certification |
Clear | Transparent rigid PVC | Grade option |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / natural | Standard supply |
What is PVC-U?
PVC-U is unplasticized (rigid) polyvinyl chloride specified as ASTM D1784 Class 12454, with NAT, high-impact, clear, UV, foam, GF20, ESD and FDA variants on file. Engineers use it for stiff, chemically resistant, low-cost parts: pressure and drain pipe and fittings, rigid profiles, and sheet for tanks and ductwork. Default values are 52 MPa tensile strength, 25 % elongation, Shore D 82 hardness, machinability score 80 and weldability score 90, with a maximum service temperature near 60 °C that rules out hot-water duty. CPVC is the step up in temperature; PP or PE is used where solvent cement is unwanted. PVC-U has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F). PVC-U has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 3 GPa (0.435 Msi).
What is PVC-U used for?
- Water supply & drainage pipe
- Window and door profiles
- Sheet for tanks and ductwork
- Electrical conduit
Advantages
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 60°C (140 °F), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades
PVC-U properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PVC-U has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F).
Mechanical17
PVC-U has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 3 GPa (0.435 Msi).
Thermal11
PVC-U is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °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 75 µm/m·K (41.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PVC-U is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 82% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PVC-U takes about 68 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 8%.
Manufacturability7
PVC-U's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 84% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
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-U is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PVC-U
Is PVC-U easy to machine?
Machines like a soft metal with sharp high-rake HSS/carbide tools, high speed and low feed; use air or flood coolant to keep the cut below ~70 °C and avoid gumming or discoloration.
Can PVC-U be welded?
Excellent — hot-gas and extrusion welding with PVC rod (~300–350 °C air), hot-plate/butt fusion for pipe, plus THF/MEK solvent cement for socket joints; cannot be welded to CPVC, PP or PE.
Can PVC-U be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and injection-moulds at 170–200 °C melt / 30–55 °C mould with short residence time and corrosion-resistant screws and hardware; sheet line-bends and thermoforms at 120–150 °C, and cold bending is limited by springback and crazing.
PVC-U 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 |
|---|---|---|
| heat stabilizer (Ca/Zn or organotin; hislead-free required for potable water and EU markets | 1 – 5 | 3 |
| calcium carbonate fillerhigher in profile/pipe compounds, near zero in clear grades | 0 – 15 | 5 |
| impact modifier (acrylic/CPE/MBS) | 0 – 8 | 2 |
| processing aid (acrylic) | 0.5 – 2 | 1 |
| lubricant (paraffin/stearate wax) | 0.3 – 1.5 | 0.8 |
| titanium dioxide pigmentUV screening in outdoor profiles | 0 – 6 | 1 |
| poly(vinyl chloride) resin (K57–K67)suspension PVC, e.g. SG-5 / SG-8 | ≥ 80 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PVC-U?
Takes solvent-based and 2K PU paint after light abrasion or flame/plasma treatment; can be flame-polished or buffed on clear grades, screen-printed and foil-laminated, but is not platable without a specialized etch process.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PVC-U in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 1043 PVC-U
- Also called
- uPVC
How much does PVC-U cost?
PVC-U is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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-U — frequently asked
What is PVC-U used for?
PVC-U is typically used for water supply & drainage pipe, window and door profiles, sheet for tanks and ductwork and electrical conduit. In short: low-cost rigid chemical resistance; excellent solvent-cement joints; limited to about 60 °C.
What is the yield strength of PVC-U?
PVC-U has a typical yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PVC-U easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 84% of polymer grades). Machines like a soft metal with sharp high-rake HSS/carbide tools, high speed and low feed; use air or flood coolant to keep the cut below ~70 °C and avoid gumming or discoloration.
Can PVC-U be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent — hot-gas and extrusion welding with PVC rod (~300–350 °C air), hot-plate/butt fusion for pipe, plus THF/MEK solvent cement for socket joints; cannot be welded to CPVC, PP or PE.
What surface finishes work on PVC-U?
Takes solvent-based and 2K PU paint after light abrasion or flame/plasma treatment; can be flame-polished or buffed on clear grades, screen-printed and foil-laminated, but is not platable without a specialized etch process.
Can PVC-U be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and injection-moulds at 170–200 °C melt / 30–55 °C mould with short residence time and corrosion-resistant screws and hardware; sheet line-bends and thermoforms at 120–150 °C, and cold bending is limited by springback and crazing.
What is the maximum service temperature of PVC-U?
PVC-U is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 75°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PVC-U cost?
PVC-U is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 D1784 — Rigid PVC and CPVC compounds (cell class 12454) — ASTM International (2020)
- EN ISO 1452 — Plastics piping systems for water supply, PVC-U — ISO/CEN (2009)
- GB/T 10002.1 — (PVC-U) (2006)
- SIMONA PVC-U / PVC-HI / PVC-ESD sheet data sheets — SIMONA AG (2023)
- Vycom / Rigid PVC Type I sheet technical data — Vycom (Altium) (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS plastics database — rigid PVC compounds — CWFG/CAMPUS (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.