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PVC
- (Poly vinylchloride) is manufactured in the form of a white powder.
Before it is fabricated, various additives such as stabilisers and
plasticisers are introduced. Unplasticised PVC - the UPVC of so many
replacement windows, is hard and strong, and has numerous uses in the
construction industry. Plasticised it is more flexible and can be used
for coatings, insulation etc. A considerable amount of research exists
which cast doubts on the environmental and health effects of the life
cycle of PVC - its disposal is a particular problem. Several european
countries have now banned the material, which makes its continued use
in the replacement window industry all the more frustrating.