When designing an interior space, it’s often the small details that can make the biggest impact.
PVC skirting boards are one such detail that can enhance the look of a room, providing both functionality and style. Plasticizers are one of the key ingredients that influence the quality of PVC skirting boards. These additives play a vital role in making PVC (polyvinyl chloride) more flexible, durable, and easier to work with. But what exactly are plasticizers? And how do they affect the performance of PVC skirting boards?
In this article, we’ll explore the role of plasticizers in PVC skirting boards and how they affect the overall performance of these popular materials.
Plasticizers are substances added to materials, particularly polymers like PVC, to increase their flexibility, workability, and durability.
Essentially, they are chemicals that help reduce the rigidity of plastics, making them softer and more flexible.
Without plasticizers, materials like PVC would be too hard and brittle for many practical applications, including skirting boards, flooring, and plumbing.
Plasticizers are usually liquid or low-molecular-weight compounds that, when mixed with PVC, reduce the intermolecular forces between polymer chains, and make the material more flexible and easier to mold into complex shapes.
Plasticizers have several important roles in PVC and other plastic materials:
Plasticizers make plastics flexible. This is critical for PVC skirting boards, which need to bend slightly to fit snugly around walls and corners.
Plasticizers make PVC easier to process. Softened plastic is easier to extrude and mold, which is especially important when making PVC skirting boards.
Plasticizers can also prevent the material from cracking and breaking under pressure, in a sense extending the service life of the material.
Plasticizers can therefore make PVC skirting boards more flexible and less likely to crack under external pressure.
Plasticizers help PVC maintain its properties over a range of temperatures, preventing it from becoming brittle in cold environments or softening too much at high temperatures.
Plasticizers are divided into two main categories: phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers. Each plasticizer has different advantages depending on the desired application.
It is the most common type of plasticizer used in PVC production.
Phthalate esters increase flexibility and durability, making them ideal for applications such as flooring and skirting boards.
However, some regions restrict the use of certain phthalates due to environmental and health concerns.
These types of plasticizers are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower environmental impact.
They offer similar benefits in terms of flexibility and performance but without the potential health risks associated with phthalates.
Non-phthalate plasticizers are increasingly being used in environmentally friendly products.
Other types of plasticizers include adipates, benzoates, and esters, which are used in specific applications that require unique properties, such as enhanced weatherability or electrical insulation.
Plasticizers will affect various aspects of the performance of PVC skirting boards. Including:
One of the most notable effects of plasticizers in PVC skirting boards is the improvement in mechanical properties. Unmodified PVC tends to be brittle and easily breaks under pressure.
With the addition of plasticizers, the PVC material becomes more elastic, which allows the skirting board to absorb impacts without cracking or breaking.
This is particularly beneficial in high-traffic areas where skirting boards may experience bumps, abrasions, or occasional knocks.
Plasticizers also improve the thermal properties of PVC. In its original state, PVC becomes brittle and cracks at low temperatures.
However, with the use of plasticizers, PVC skirting boards remain flexible and intact even in colder environments.
Likewise, they retain their shape and properties at higher temperatures, which is important in areas with fluctuating temperatures or direct exposure to heat sources.
Plasticizers can also affect the electrical properties of PVC. Although this effect is minimal in skirting board applications, it must be acknowledged that it does exist.
PVC with plasticizers can act as a good insulator, which is why it is often used in wires and cables.
In the context of skirting boards, this property is important for installations close to electrical outlets, helping to reduce the risk of electrical hazards.
We all know that PVC will degrade over time when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures, causing discoloration, brittleness, or cracking.
Adding plasticizers can significantly improve the resistance of PVC skirting boards to light and heat aging.
Plasticizers help prevent the material from breaking down, ensuring that the skirting boards maintain their color, flexibility, and strength even after long-term exposure to UV rays and high temperatures.
Plasticizers can also enhance other performance characteristics, such as weather resistance and sound insulation.
Plasticized PVC is highly resistant to environmental factors such as humidity, rain, and snow, making it an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Flexible PVC can help reduce sound transmission, which is an added benefit for homes or offices that need to reduce noise.
While plasticizers are commonly used in PVC skirting boards, their uses extend far beyond that. Here are five other industrial uses for plasticizers:
PVC flooring uses plasticizers to make the material flexible and abrasion-resistant, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens and hallways.
Many medical devices, like IV tubing and blood bags, use plasticized PVC for flexibility, durability, and ease of use.
Plasticizers help make PVC flexible and durable, which is critical for wire and cable insulation that must withstand bending and movement.
PVC rainwear and outdoor fabrics are often plasticized to increase flexibility and comfort while remaining waterproof.
Plasticizers are used in PVC to create flexible and durable inflatable products, like mattresses, toys, and boats.
In summary, plasticizers are essential to manufacturing high-quality PVC skirting boards, significantly improving performance, longevity, and aesthetics.
While there are some concerns about environmental impact, advances in non-phthalate plasticizers are helping to make these materials safer for both people and the planet.
The durability and environmental friendliness of materials are eternal themes. Plasticizers are destined to become an irreplaceable part of the development of PVC products.
We all know that its importance is self-evident.
CREATEKING is a PVC skirting manufacturer that can help you customize your skirting model. Why not contact us?
