How is vinyl manufactured?
Vinyl is manufactured through a chemical process that begins with basic saltwater, an abundant natural resource. Chlorine is derived from the saltwater and combined with ethylene, a petroleum-based product, to create ethylene dichloride (EDC). In a process called “cracking,” the EDC is transformed into a gas called vinyl chloride monomer, or VCM. The next stage turns the monomer VCM into the polymer polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC or vinyl. At this point, the material is referred to as vinyl “resin” and is a white powdery substance, solid and inert. Through a process called “compounding,” vinyl resin is combined using heat with various additives and modifiers, such as plasticizers for flexibility, stabilizers for durability and pigments for color. Vinyl owes its versatility and exceptional performance characteristics to this compounding process because it allows manufacturers to customize the end product according to their unique needs.
