Synthesizing A Super Substance: How Humans Beat Nature

Over the years humans have learnt some very tough lessons thanks to mother nature, mostly how easily anything man made from natural materials can be torn down, up or simply washed away. Not to mention that all natural things are subject to weathering by the elements which can often be extreme depending upon the climate or locale. So how do we handle these knock backs? Why, we apply ourselves to science and create a hardier substance of course! image source

Creation of a Super Substance

Through trials and tribulations ( three false starts and one triumphant discovery to be exact) man invented the substance Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC for short. Its first discoverers knew they were on to a good thing after finding the solid yet brittle white substance in their labs after exposing a flask of vinyl chloride to sunlight. Yet Henri Victor Regnault, Eugen Baumann nor Friedrich Klatte could find a good use for their new discovery, it was Waldo Semon who discovered the full potential of polymerised vinyl chloride after boiling it in an attempt to make a bonding agent that would stick rubber to wood. Semon soon discovered that PVC would be able to, more often than not, take the place of these materials due to its ease of moulding and weather resistance.

Standing Up to Mother Nature

Though the first uses of PVC were seemingly humble, golf balls, shoe heels and lets not forget the mass marketed vinyl records it was used for in the 50's and 60's, but it has since become a material that is helping us out in all walks of life. image source

Often used in the place of wood uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) is now used in window and door frames, forming a tight, durable seal that lasts much longer than its wooden counter part as well as being able to resist much tougher weather systems without the constant upkeep. The PVC pipe is also replacing most metal pipes in the water and sewage lines as it does not corrode as easily nor does it crack in frosts. Vinyl siding is also being used on houses, especially in America, as it is cheaper to manufacture than wood, is much hardier and comes in an array of colours that don't need to be painted or treated against the weather year after year. The fact that PVC is also easily mass produced and moulded means that its also being used in fittings and furnishings, would you believe its also used to protect the underside of cars from corrosion? The plastic coating helps protect the metal from water, grit and any chemicals or salt that have been used on the road!

With so much going for it, as well as the fact that its recyclable, meaning it can easily be reshaped and reused unlike wood, metal or stone, means that there is a good reason that PVC is the third most produced plastic in the world!

What do you know about PVC? Join the discussion below and let us know!

Editor's Note: This post has been contributed by Erica, a writer at Rayflex Rubber who PVC strip curtains and impact doors in the UK.