Polyvinyl chloride was accidentally discovered twice in the 19th
century, first in 1835 by Henri Victor Regnault and in 1872 by Eugen
Baumann.
He observed that the newly created gas- Vinyl Chloride, when exposed
to sunlight, underwent a chemical reaction (now recognized as
polymerization) resulting in an off-white solid material.
Klatte was the first person to receive a patent for PVC in 1913
In 1926, Waldo L. Semon, while trying to dissolve PVC to create an
adhesive for bonding rubber to metal, discovered a substance that was
both flexible and elastic, which soon achieved widespread commercial use
Waldo L. Semon was awarded 116 U.S. patents for PVC. He was
eventually inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995
In 1932, the first tubes made from a PVC copolymer were produced. By
1933, PVC had an important use as cable insulation during the Second
World War
By 1938, first PVC Pipes were produced using a roll mill and
hydraulic extruder. PVC has become the world's second-best-selling
plastic, generating billions of dollars in sales each year.
In 1950s, the most important innovation came when irrigation pipe &
Electrical Conduit Pipe made from rigid Poly-vinyl Chloride were
introduced.
And now…..
PVC pipe is recognized as a less expensive, non-corrosive and more
easily installed alternative to metal pipe. In terms of revenue
generated, it is one of the most valuable products of the chemical
industry. Around the world, over 50% of PVC manufactured is used in
construction.
