What is PVC?

WHAT IS PVC?

PVC, or vinyl, is one of the oldest thermoplastic polymers and is among the most commonly used and thoroughly tested plastics globally. Its manufacturing process involves extracting chlorine from regular salt and chemically combining it with ethylene, which is from coal in South Africa.

There are three types of PVC: rigid (PVC-U flexible (PVC-U), and liquid, with the rigid and flexible forms being most prevalent across various industries. Applications include long-lasting items water pipes, window and door frames, flooring, shoes, and fashion accessories, as well as critical medical devices and packaging. Rigid is often used to create irrigation pipes, conduits, gutters, pharmaceutical bottles, and fridge magnets, while flexible PVC is utilized for drip bags, electrical insulation, vehicle dashboard coverings, gumboots, safety gloves, garden hoses, and packaging films.

THE EVOLUTION OF PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was discovered in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann. It was initially overlooked in favor of more versatile materials. However, thanks to industrial advancements, the advent of the 20th century brought a new era for this polymer.

PVC was first synthesized as a white powder, but its commercial potential was not realized until the early 1900s. The breakthrough came when manufacturers began plasticizing PVC, making it more flexible and easier to process. This transformation allowed for a wider array of applications, leading to its first major use in producing plumbing pipes. By the 1930s, PVC began to replace traditional materials like metal and wood in various industries.

THE BENEFITS OF USING PVC

PVC is always compounded with additives to give it a range of properties, such as rigidity, flexibility, fire resistance and liquidity. Vinyls are popular because of their numerous advantageous properties:

PVC has excellent resistance to wear and tear – making it ideal for products that need to withstand hard usage over many years.
It is lightweight, cost-effective and requires little energy to manufacture.
This plastic is inherently flame-resistant and is impermeable to liquids.
Around 80% of vinyl is used for products that last for between 15 and 100 years. This long life means vinyl is one of the smallest pollutants with small volumes found in landfill and virtually none in waterways or the marine environment.
Studies show that vinyl does not pollute soil and groundwater and does not contribute to toxic leachate in landfill because it doesn’t degrade in landfill.

PVC markets in Africa and South Africa

As of 2023, PVC capacity in Africa was indicated at 740ktpa, shared among four PVC producers.
TCI Sanmar is the largest producer and accounts for over half of the regional capacity.
TCI currently does not have enough ethylene to support full production on its 2nd PVC expansion of 200ktpa, so the additional capacity depends more heavily on EDC imports.
Capacity utilisation dropped to 61% in 2023.
Possible 100kt additional capacity planned (50kt Morocco, 50kt Egypt) in 2026, however no confirmation yet.
In 2023, PVC capacity in Africa was at 740kt with 456kt production at a utilization rate of 61%.
Consumption and production rates dipped in 2021 and 2022 due to Covid restrictions.
Africa is a net importer of PVC since production is insufficient to meet demand.
Imports are expected to grow to match demand growth