PVC supplier: rigid and flexible compounds
Durable and economical, with inherent flame resistance in rigid grades, PVC spans rigid profiles and pipe to flexible tubing and films. We source rigid and flexible compounds in standard and custom formulations.
One gaylord to a railcar · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Good (impact-modified rigid)
- Heat (HDT at 1.82 MPa, rigid)
- ~60–75°C
- Clarity
- Clear grades available
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a railcar
- Grades
- Rigid extrusion and injection compounds · Flexible compounds (multiple durometers) · Clear and opaque formulations
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
PVC is the low-cost choice for pipe, profiles, tubing and cable jacket where chemical resistance and inherent flame resistance in rigid grades matter. It is almost always bought as a compound, so the formulation (stabilizer, plasticizer, impact modifier) matters as much as the polymer. The most common problem is heat: PVC has a narrow window, and overheated material burns, streaks and releases hydrogen chloride that corrodes the tool.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
Never let PVC and acetal meet at processing temperature. Together they can release gas violently. Purge thoroughly, with PE or PS in between.
About PVC
Rigid PVC delivers weatherability, chemical resistance and inherent flame retardance for building products and profiles; flexible PVC compounds add plasticizers for tubing, films, and wire and cable. Compound selection (impact modifiers, stabilizer systems, plasticizer type) drives performance, and our chemist helps you specify it.
Common applications
- Pipe, fittings and profiles
- Building and construction products
- Flexible tubing and hose
- Wire and cable jacketing
- Films and sheet
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Good (impact-modified rigid) |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT at 1.82 MPa / 264 psi, rigid) | ~60–75°C; not recommended for continuous use above about 60°C |
| Clarity | Clear grades available |
| Chemical resistance | Rigid: excellent to acids, bases and salts; attacked by ketones, aromatic and chlorinated solvents. Flexible: lower, depends on plasticizer |
| Relative cost | Low |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
Start with rigid or flexible, then the process and the one property your part depends on.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid extrusion compounds | Pipe, window and building profiles, siding and trim | Weathering grades use specific stabilizer and pigment systems. Ask for the outdoor grade by name |
| Rigid injection compounds | Fittings, electrical boxes and housings | Narrow processing window. Needs a screw and tool made for PVC |
| Flexible compounds by durometer | Tubing, hose, gaskets, boots and grips | Plasticizer type controls migration, low-temperature flex and what the part can touch |
| Clear compounds (rigid or flexible) | Clear tubing, sheet and medical-style tubing | Yellowing from heat history. Keep regrind low in clear parts |
| Wire and cable compounds | Jacketing and insulation | UL recognition is grade-specific and color-specific. Check the grade’s listing on UL Product iQ |
| Potable water or food-contact compounds | Water pipe and fittings, food tubing | Ask for the compound’s documentation, such as an NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 listing for potable water or the producer’s FDA letter for food contact |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. Usually not needed. Most PVC compounds ship ready to process. If pellets picked up surface moisture, dry at about 49°C / 120°F for 2–3 hours. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. Rigid PVC: about 193–202°C / 380–395°F. Flexible PVC: about 163–200°C / 325–392°F, lower for softer durometers. Do not run soft PVC above 200°C / 392°F.
- Mold temperature and residence. Rigid: about 27–54°C / 80–130°F. Flexible: about 10–60°C / 50–140°F. Residence is a hard limit: about 15 minutes for rigid and 10 minutes for flexible. Use a corrosion-resistant screw and tool steel, and neutralize tools daily.
- Shrinkage. Rigid PVC: about 0.20–0.50% in the flow direction. Flexible PVC: about 1.0–3.0%, and softer compounds shrink more.
- Regrind. About 10–20% for rigid PVC is a common start. Each pass uses up heat stabilizer, so never regrind burned or purged material. See regrind limits by resin.
- Most common defect. Burning and black streaks from heat or hang-up. Look for dead spots in the screw, check valve and hot runner, cut residence time and purge before you stop. See burn marks.
What to put on the purchase order
- Rigid or flexible, and for flexible, the durometer (Shore A) with a tolerance.
- Cell classification for rigid compounds (ASTM D1784), if your drawing or customer uses it.
- Plasticizer type for flexible grades. Say if the part goes into a children’s toy or child-care article: U.S. law (16 CFR 1307, under the CPSIA) bars more than 0.1% of eight specified phthalates in those products, and many retail programs ask for a non-phthalate plasticizer outright.
- Stabilizer system, for example calcium-zinc or tin, and whether lead-free is required.
- Color and outdoor use: weathering grades and color are chosen together.
- Regulatory documents by grade: the producer’s FDA letter for food contact, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 for potable water, and UL Product iQ listing for wire or electrical parts.
- COA values to check: specific gravity, durometer for flexible grades, and heat stability or melt flow if the grade lists them.
When to consider something else
- If you need a flexible part without halogens or PVC-type plasticizer, look at TPE / TPV.
- If you need chemical resistance in a halogen-free rigid part, look at polypropylene.
- If you need a weatherable profile or housing with better heat, look at ASA, and see ABS vs. ASA.
- If the fluid is hot and corrosive beyond what PVC handles, look at PVDF.
Common questions
What is the difference between rigid and flexible PVC?
Rigid PVC has little or no plasticizer and is used for pipe, profiles and fittings. Flexible PVC contains plasticizer, which makes it soft and is used for tubing, hose, cable jacket and gaskets. The two process at different temperatures and shrink by very different amounts.
Can you injection mold PVC?
Yes, both rigid and flexible PVC compounds are injection molded, mostly into fittings, boxes, boots and grips. It needs a tight temperature window, short residence time, and a screw and tool made to resist the hydrogen chloride PVC gives off if it overheats.
Is PVC food safe?
Some PVC compounds are formulated for food contact, but compliance depends on the exact compound, especially the plasticizer and stabilizer. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for that grade. Do not treat PVC as compliant as a family.
Why is PVC hard on molds and screws?
When PVC overheats or sits too long in the barrel, it releases hydrogen chloride, which turns corrosive with moisture. That pits standard steel. Molders use corrosion-resistant steel or plating, keep residence short and clean tools after each run.
Tell us the PVC grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Hardness (durometer), if it is a flexible grade
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Rigid or flexible PVC, to your formulation
Send the PVC compound, durometer for flexible grades, and volume; a polymer chemist reviews the formulation and we quote it.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.