Flexible PVC is an economical thermoplastic for profiles that need colour, transparency or a rigid + soft combination. It is the material of clear shower door seals, most coloured edge trim and the rigid base of co-extruded truck door seals. It is easy to extrude and weld, but it stiffens in the cold and softens with heat (typically about –10 °C to +60 °C for general grades), and it does not recover from compression as well as EPDM.
Typical properties
| Property | PVC |
|---|---|
| Typical service temperature | about –10 °C to +60 °C (special grades wider) |
| UV / weather | Fair to good with stabilisers |
| Transparency / colours | Clear and any colour |
| Compression recovery | Fair |
| Rigid + soft co-extrusion | Yes |
| Relative cost | Low |
Typical ranges for general-purpose compounds, for comparison only. The exact compound, hardness and section decide the real performance – tell us your conditions and we propose a material.
Good choice for
- Clear shower door seals (magnetic, H / F / U)
- Coloured edge trim and furniture profiles
- Rigid base of truck and container door seals
- Garage door bottom seals
Avoid it for
- Seals that must stay soft in freezing outdoor conditions
- Seals under constant high compression and heat