Flexible PVC
Density of flexible PVC
1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400)
1.25 g/cm³ · 78.0 lb/ft³
The same polymer as uPVC with 20-50% plasticizer stirred in, which is why its density spans such a wide band — the additive is lighter than the resin. Plasticizer migrates out over years, and that is precisely why old vinyl goes hard and cracks, why a car dashboard fogs the windscreen, and why the smell of a new inflatable eventually fades. It is also why flexible PVC should not be left in contact with polystyrene or acrylic, which it will attack.
Properties
- Density
- 1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400) — 1.25 g/cm³
- Tensile strength
- 10–25 MPa
- Young's modulus
- 0.02 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 0.15 W/(m·K)
- Thermal expansion
- 150 µm/(m·K)
- Floats in water
- No
- Magnetic
- No
What it is used for
- Mains cable insulation and sheathing
- Garden hose and clear tubing
- Vinyl flooring and wall covering
- Inflatable boats and pool liners
How it compares
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.
air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
flexible PVC 1,250 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
| Material | Density | Relative to water |
|---|---|---|
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| flexible PVC ← | 1,250 kg/m³ | 1.25× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |
Does it rust?
Flexible PVC contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.
Is it magnetic?
Flexible PVC is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Common questions
- What is the density of flexible PVC?
- 1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400), or 1.25 g/cm³.
- Does flexible PVC float?
- No. At 1,250 kg/m³ it is denser than water.
- Is flexible PVC magnetic?
- Flexible PVC is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Related pages
- Does flexible PVC float? No
- PLA 1,240 kg/m³
- ABS 1,050 kg/m³
- Acrylic (PMMA) 1,180 kg/m³
- Polycarbonate 1,200 kg/m³
- Polypropylene 905 kg/m³
- PTFE 2,170 kg/m³
- Rigid PVC 1,400 kg/m³
- HDPE 955 kg/m³
Sources
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place