When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
As we have discussed over the past several articles, the term "plastic" refers to a wide range of materials, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Thermoplastics, like polystyrene, are effective because of their diversity and ability to add structure to other polymers – however, there are many other types of thermoplastics other than polystyrene that feature radically different attributes than the other plastics in that category, such as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.
Versatile and sustainable
PVC is abundant and commonly used in building, transportation, packaging, electrical, and healthcare applications. It is often desirable because of the fact that PVC is both durable and a long lasting material that can be altered to manifest either rigid or flexible properties. However, the area in which PVC differs most drastically from other thermoplastics is the fact that it is not always derived from oil, a common building block for most other polymers such as polystyrene. Instead, PVC can be made from a mix of 57 percent salt and 43 percent hydrocarbon feedstocks, which can be extracted from ethylene from sugar crops, making it significantly more sustainable in terms of production.
PVC is abundant and commonly used in building, transportation, packaging, electrical, and healthcare applications. It is often desirable because of the fact that PVC is both durable and a long lasting material that can be altered to manifest either rigid or flexible properties. However, the area in which PVC differs most drastically from other thermoplastics is the fact that it is not always derived from oil, a common building block for most other polymers such as polystyrene. Instead, PVC can be made from a mix of 57 percent salt and 43 percent hydrocarbon feedstocks, which can be extracted from ethylene from sugar crops, making it significantly more sustainable in terms of production.
Like polystyrene, PVC's widespread usage is due to its compatibility with an array of different additives, which can contribute different qualities to the material. For example, PVC can be plasticized to make it more flexible, making it optimal for applications such as flooring and medical products, but if left unplasticized, PVC is rigid, and is used extensively by the construction industry.
As Jim Rancourt, CEO of Polymer Solutions, explained in one of our recent articles, when plastics are blended, each contributes different physical and chemical properties. In this way, engineers can create plastics that take the attributes from one plastic and combine them with those of another. PVC is so effective because it contributes both physical qualities of rigidity or flexibility, based on whether it's plasticized or not. Additionally, due to the presence of chlorine in the polymer matrix, which is contributed by its high chlorine content. PVC is also remarkably fire retardant. As such, it has excellent insulation properties, which makes it effective for insulating cables. Additionally, PVC is resistant to a slew of chemicals, including dilute acids, dilute alkalis and aliphatic hydrocarbons, making it an excellent choice for building materials that will be exposed to a variety of chemicals in indoor applications and weather conditions in outdoor conditions.
Saving lives and time with PVC
However, PVC is not limited to plumbing and cable insulation – it is also used extensively in the healthcare industry. According to The British Plastics Federation, PVC has been saving lives for over 50 years through hundreds of PVC-based products that are used in surgery, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery and medical packaging. For example, flexible blood and IV bags are most commonly made out of plasticized, flexible PVC, which is, in fact, the only material approved by the European Pharmacopoeia for this application. This is because of the unique chemical properties of PVC which allow blood to be stored safely for long durations of time. The same attributes make PVC the ideal material for blood and plasma transfusion sets as well as synthetic blood vessels for artificial kidneys.
However, PVC is not limited to plumbing and cable insulation – it is also used extensively in the healthcare industry. According to The British Plastics Federation, PVC has been saving lives for over 50 years through hundreds of PVC-based products that are used in surgery, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery and medical packaging. For example, flexible blood and IV bags are most commonly made out of plasticized, flexible PVC, which is, in fact, the only material approved by the European Pharmacopoeia for this application. This is because of the unique chemical properties of PVC which allow blood to be stored safely for long durations of time. The same attributes make PVC the ideal material for blood and plasma transfusion sets as well as synthetic blood vessels for artificial kidneys.
"When plastics are blended, each contributes different physical and chemical properties."
Additionally, unlike materials like Styrofoam, which is effectively air-puffed polystyrene, PVC is relatively easy to recycle into new PVC products. Using mechanical recycling, easy to identify pure PVC products are separated from waste streams in recycling plants, cleaned, and remolded into new products. Typically, recycled PVC ends up being used for pipes, window profiles, flooring, roofing membranes and coated fabrics, according to PVC.org. PVC products that include additives can also be recycled if the additional materials can be easily identified. However, it is not possible to extract additives from a plastic blend, which means that these products can only be recycled into products that employ the same mixture of plastics.
In the past, many recycling plants shied away from recycling PVC on mixed plastic lines because of the potential for complications during the recycling process. According to PVC.org, the threshold for PVC in mixed, recycled plastics is only 15 percent – any more has the potential to cause issues. However, new technologies are making it easier than ever for recycling plants to separate PVC from other plastics in order to make better use of this versatile plastic. Using near infrared spectroscopy, tech-savvy recycling plants can identify and sort various polystyrene blends as well as PVC in order to quickly and efficiently isolate different polymers for more effective recycling.
PVC on the rise
Like other thermoplastics, PVC is an incredibly versatile material that can be modified to meet the requirements of a wide range of applications. From the healthcare industry to automotive and construction, PVC is used everywhere. Additionally, due to the fact that PVC does not require petroleum for production, it can be manufactured by anyone with access to salt and hydrocarbon feedstock, making it even more accessible, especially for countries in which oil is more difficult to acquire. Now, with recycling easier than ever, this abundant and versatile plastic is reaching into yet more industries as scientists and engineers develop new uses for PVC.
Like other thermoplastics, PVC is an incredibly versatile material that can be modified to meet the requirements of a wide range of applications. From the healthcare industry to automotive and construction, PVC is used everywhere. Additionally, due to the fact that PVC does not require petroleum for production, it can be manufactured by anyone with access to salt and hydrocarbon feedstock, making it even more accessible, especially for countries in which oil is more difficult to acquire. Now, with recycling easier than ever, this abundant and versatile plastic is reaching into yet more industries as scientists and engineers develop new uses for PVC.
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