Why is PVC Used in Construction?
All Octaform components are extruded from Polyvinylchloride (PVC). PVC is used extensively in worldwide construction. Its strong, lightweight, durable and versatile, making it ideal for many products.
Octaform’s stay-in-place components not only provide formwork for concrete but both the interior and exterior wall finish. The product is compatible with building code requirements worldwide, including the US, Canada, EU, and Australia.
HIGH-QUALITY, VERSATILE MATERIAL
Polyvinyl chloride, PVC is one of the most popular plastics used in building and construction. In general, PVC is light, water-resistant, offers a long-life cycle, and does not require much maintenance. These excellent qualities make PVC one of the most used plastics today. General properties include fast fusion and good property flow with high heat stability. Excellent transparency, a good surface of finished products, and easy coloring.
It is used in drinking water and wastewater pipes, window frames, flooring and roofing foils, wall coverings, cables, and many other applications as it provides an excellent alternative to traditional materials such as wood, metal, rubber, and glass.
Products made of PVC are resistant to weather, oil, and UV radiation. Finished products are flexible or resistant to mechanical shock and can be pigmented in any color. The versatility of PVC allows it to be used for a wide range of applications with high standards for product quality.
PVC is resistant to weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock, and abrasion. It is, therefore, the preferred choice for many different long-life and outdoor products. In fact, medium and long-term applications account for some 85 percent of PVC production in the building and construction sector.
RESISTANT TO WATER AND CHEMICALS
Octaform offers a durable, water-tight membrane that is highly resistant to corrosion and low-pH environments. Suitable for containing H2S from wastewater and organic composition process in digestion tanks.
Since PVC panels are unaffected by water and moisture, they last for a very long time and do not support mold growth. This ensures that the panels last long and the facility managers do not have to think about re-lining walls and downtime.
PVC is also chemically resistant to acids, salts, bases, fats, and alcohols, making it resistant to the corrosive effects of sewage, which is why it is so extensively utilized in sewer piping systems.
CLEANABLE SURFACE
Octaform panels require little maintenance and are simple to clean. PVC is essential as it has been proven in aquaculture, pharmaceutical, and even surgical facilities because it has the lowest propensity to accumulate biofilms and other pathogens.
Even under a microscope, it is extremely smooth and non-porous. It exceeds several other materials including stainless steel in its ability to avoid adhesion of pathogens and harbor bacteria and is second only to copper in recent studies in resistance to accumulation of biofilms.
As a result, PVC is used extensively in potable water containment and anywhere that disease transmission is a concern. This includes food processing facilities, healthcare, and aquaculture where disease management is a major consideration. More recently the Cannabis sector has relied on PVC surfaces to ensure cleanability and avoid mold accumulation.
PVC HEAT RESISTANCE
PVC has an inherent insulation that aids in reducing condensation formation and resisting internal temperature changes for hot and cold liquids. PVC is self-extinguishing and burns less readily than most other materials and is thus a factor in fire prevention.
PVC IS RECYCLABLE
Recycling facilities exist for most PVC applications, for example, window profiles, pipes, and fittings, floor covering and roofing, etc. Where possible, recycled PVC is reused.
Recycled PVC can easily be broken down into small chips, impurities removed, and the product refined to make pure PVC. It can be recycled roughly seven times and has a lifespan of around 140 years.
