It
was first made in 1872. However, the first PVC wasn't very good. When heated
or exposed to sunlight, the molecules broke up and an acidic gas was given off.
Decades later, scientists discovered that chemicals could be added which would
make it stable and resistant to light and heat. This meant good-quality PVC
products could be manufactured.PVC
was first used instead of rubber to insulate the wires in electrical cables. This
was about 60 years ago, during Word War II, when rubber was in short supply. Since
then it has replaced rubber for insulation and found many other applications.
These days, it's the second most popular plastic in the world.
In
more than 60 years of production and commercial use, PVC has contributed
greatly to the development of modern life. It has also become one of the most
thoroughly researched materials. Its manufacture is closely regulated and results
of life cycle analyses published so far show that PVC is a safe product in its
production, use and disposal.
