PVC-U FOAM
Grade
ISO 1043 PVC-U
FOAM = rigid PVC foam sheet
Lightweight, easily routed/screen-printed board for signage, displays, furniture cores and non-structural panels.
Values for the FOAM condition
Other PVC-U grades and fills
PVC-U is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at PVC-U.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FOAMThis page 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 | — |
What is PVC-U FOAM?
PVC-U FOAM is PVC-U in the FOAM grade — lightweight, easily routed/screen-printed board for signage, displays, furniture cores and non-structural panels. PVC-U FOAM has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi). PVC-U FOAM has a density of 0.55 g/cm³ (0.0199 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.55 g/cm³ (0.0199 lb/in³), 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 — 55°C (131 °F), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.07 W/m·K (0.0404 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades
PVC-U FOAM properties
Typical room-temperature values for PVC-U FOAM; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PVC-U reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PVC-U FOAM has a density of 0.55 g/cm³ (0.0199 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F).
Mechanical17
PVC-U FOAM has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi).
Thermal11
PVC-U FOAM is rated for continuous service to 55°C (131 °F). It conducts heat at 0.07 W/m·K (0.0404 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 75 µm/m·K (41.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PVC-U FOAM 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 FOAM 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 FOAM's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability good (60/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PVC-U FOAM
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.
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.
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) | — |
PVC-U FOAM — frequently asked
What is PVC-U FOAM used for?
PVC-U FOAM 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 FOAM?
PVC-U FOAM has a typical yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PVC-U FOAM easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 95% 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 FOAM be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). 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 FOAM?
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 FOAM 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 FOAM?
PVC-U FOAM is rated for continuous use to about 55°C (131 °F), and briefly to 75°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.