01/11/19

History of PVC Windows.

Using the abbreviation PVC, we often do not particularly imagine what it means and the material with what properties it hides. PVC is a polyvinyl chloride polymer with quite an interesting history. It was discovered twice by different scientists, but in the first and in the second case, its appearance went unnoticed by businessmen of the time. It was first obtained by chance in the early 19th century by the French chemist Henri Regnault, and four decades later it also appeared by chance as a result of experiments conducted by the German chemist Eugene Bauman. Then, in the early 20th century, the commercial value of polyvinyl chloride was investigated by the Russian chemist Ivan Ostrosmyslensky. At the same time, the German scientist Fritz Klatte developed the first technology for the production of this plastic. However, polyvinyl chloride remained among the commercially unsuitable materials, because in its pure form it is rigid and at the same time brittle. 

PVC got a second life thanks to the American chemist Waldo Simon, who in 1926 invented plasticizers that increased the plasticity of the material and allowed its easy processing. And in 1931, PVC production was started on an industrial scale.

The twentieth century was a time of active experiments with polyvinyl chloride, Industrialists tried to expand the range of its application. The result was plastic pipes, cables, pieces of furniture and even clothing. To make of a new material window profiles for the first time tried in America. However, the construction market at that time was not ready for such innovations, preferring the usual wooden frames. The initiative was taken up by German entrepreneurs looking for an alternative to expensive wood. And in 1952, it was in Germany that a patent for plastic Windows was obtained. It is fair to say that in appearance they did not resemble modern. 

The popularity of plastic Windows in Europe was not sudden and sharp, recognition came to them gradually, and the first time the manufacture and installation of PVC Windows was made at a low cost and sometimes even free of charge.