A thicker (e.g. 400 micron) soft GC PVC material

[Pvc Vinyl Enthusiast]

I was wondering if PVC-U-Like (one of the UK's largest PVC clothing specialists) could complement their existing range of materials with a thicker (e.g. 400 micron) glass clear PVC with the same plasticiser content (to ensure softness and pliability) as their thinner 200 micron glass clear material? I have quite a few of their glass clear 200 micron PA3 raincoats in various colours (GC, GCR, GCB); all are wonderfully soft (owing to their high plasticiser content), glossy and noisy! However, it would be interesting to see how a thicker (but highly plasticised) soft glass clear PVC material differs to the thinner stuff. Would it be 'noisier'? I love 'noisy' soft glass clear and unlined shiny opaque PVC rainwear; the more crackles, squeaks, creaks and pops it makes, the better! I've noticed that 'sticky' or 'clingy' PVC with a shiny/glossy surface makes the most noise. Frosted, matte and dull PVC is relatively quiet and doesn't really appeal to me.

I say bring back the full range of 'old school' phthalate plasticisers- glass clear and glossy/shiny opaque PVC was much softer, sensual and noisier before many of the low molecular weight phthalates were banned on health and safety grounds!

[pvcdreams.old]

Hi Mr Vinyl and PVC fanatics

I have contemplated purchasing a thick Glass clear material circa 350-400 micron but any raincoat or cape made from this material would be quite heavy and certainly very sweaty (I know some of you might like that!). The paradox is that if you use the same plasticiser content the material would become quite floppy and not very noisy as you would like but nice and "swishy" which may appeal to others. To make material more "crackly" "popping" "rustly" etc would mean using less plasticiser to stiffen up the material. It would be interesting to maybe have a poll asking who likes soft and stretchy versus stiffer more noisy PVC. The problem I have at the moment is that I have physically run out of room, I have 45000 meters of PVC in stock (enough to sink a battleship) and until we have moved premises I have nowhere to store any new PVC.

Please do not get me on the subject of Plasticisers! I get very angry at the media and these "experts" that know so much about plasticisers and phthalates. After 50 years of analyzing phthalates they have discovered that if a pregnant woman is exposed to large quantities of phthalates the male reproductive system could be damaged but what about all the other factors such as diet, smoking, cosmic rays! if the governments were really serious about protecting unborn kids they should totally ban cigarettes, booze, mac Donalds but Oh no that would cause outrage! so let's stick to other less controversial things like PVC and take the attention off all the other crap going on in the world.....sorry about that!

Greenpeace and all the other Do Gooders want to "ban" PVC but its never going to happen, PVC is of massive importance to the world and basically we cannot live without it. However the emphasis is on phthalates at the moment. The "old" phthalate that Mr Vinyl is referring to is DEHP which is now on the EU Reach document for restricted use in the EU but get this, DEHP is still used widely for all blood transfusion and blood storage bags because it has the best properties, so its not that dangerous is it if we can pump it through peoples bodies and they still come out the other side without two heads or three willies! We / I could specify DEHP and no one would be the wiser but I have to tow the party line and use DINP which is allowed for use in the EU and to be honest is as good as DEHP. We at PVC-U-LIKE are trying to keep one step ahead of the game and are presently playing with the use of none phthalate PVC known as non-p. We have a new manufacturer who is producing our first batch of Natural clear PVC using non-p and I'm looking forward to the results, when we get it in stock we'll make up some raincoats for you guys to try out and I'm sure you will like the results, you never know they might actually be slightly noisy!

Cheers everyone

Gaz

[Pvc Vinyl Enthusiast]

Hi Mr Vinyl and PVC fanatics

I have contemplated purchasing a thick Glass clear material circa 350-400 micron but any raincoat or cape made from this material would be quite heavy and certainly very sweaty (I know some of you might like that!). The paradox is that if you use the same plasticiser content the material would become quite floppy and not very noisy as you would like but nice and "swishy" which may appeal to others. To make material more "crackly" "popping" "rustly" etc would mean using less plasticiser to stiffen up the material. It would be interesting to maybe have a poll asking who likes soft and stretchy versus stiffer more noisy PVC. The problem I have at the moment is that I have physically run out of room, I have 45000 meters of PVC in stock (enough to sink a battleship) and until we have moved premises I have nowhere to store any new PVC.

Please do not get me on the subject of Plasticisers! I get very angry at the media and these "experts" that know so much about plasticisers and phthalates. After 50 years of analyzing phthalates they have discovered that if a pregnant woman is exposed to large quantities of phthalates the male reproductive system could be damaged but what about all the other factors such as diet, smoking, cosmic rays! if the governments were really serious about protecting unborn kids they should totally ban cigarettes, booze, mac Donalds but Oh no that would cause outrage! so let's stick to other less controversial things like PVC and take the attention off all the other crap going on in the world.....sorry about that!

Greenpeace and all the other Do Gooders want to "ban" PVC but its never going to happen, PVC is of massive importance to the world and basically we cannot live without it. However the emphasis is on phthalates at the moment. The "old" phthalate that Mr Vinyl is referring to is DEHP which is now on the EU Reach document for restricted use in the EU but get this, DEHP is still used widely for all blood transfusion and blood storage bags because it has the best properties, so its not that dangerous is it if we can pump it through peoples bodies and they still come out the other side without two heads or three willies! We / I could specify DEHP and no one would be the wiser but I have to tow the party line and use DINP which is allowed for use in the EU and to be honest is as good as DEHP. We at PVC-U-LIKE are trying to keep one step ahead of the game and are presently playing with the use of none phthalate PVC known as non-p. We have a new manufacturer who is producing our first batch of Natural clear PVC using non-p and I'm looking forward to the results, when we get it in stock we'll make up some raincoats for you guys to try out and I'm sure you will like the results, you never know they might actually be slightly noisy!

Cheers everyone

Gaz

Hi PVC Dreams,

Does PUL coat the surface of their Glass Clear (GC, GCR, GCB, etc) rainwear with a fine powdery talc or chalk dust/flour to prevent the naturally 'sticky' or 'clingy' glass clear PVC material from clinging or adhering to itself ? To remove the chalk/talc, I wash the rainwear in a foamy solution of washing up liquid in warm water, then rinse thoroughly with fresh warm water (making sure that every last trace of detergent and suds are removed). Then I allow the rainwear to dry completely. After this washing procedure, the glass clear PVC surfaces become very 'sticky' (or 'clingy') which, I've found, enhances the lovely crackling, popping and creaking sort of noises emitted from the raincoat when it is physically handled, or when it is unfolded from a tightly-compressed, compact (and very 'clingy') raincoat 'parcel'.

I very much enjoy the stickiness/clinginess, softness and noise of shiny glass clear and unbacked shiny opaque PVC!

[rainfash]

i also love the gcr and gcb glass clear raincoats from pcv-u-like very much, as they are. ALTHOUGH i wear a "normal 50" in size, I used to wear 2 XL of the GC coats, because I noticed that they would tear under the arms if fitted, and therefore too tight to move.
i also prefer the shiny noisy crackly rustling clingy sticky unlined pvc coats.
In the 70s they wre a lot of them in opaque colours, and I assume they had put less plasticizers in it.
The glass clear raincoats in the 70s were not as noisy as today's glass clear coats. Am i wrong, what do you think ?
In the 70s there were more opaque shiny unlined raincoats which were more noisy and crackly than the opaque coats are today.

[dave62]

Gaz, I am looking forward to your new transparent "non-p" material. However, the Holy Grail has to be a way to emulate the Euroflex material from Gray in San Diego. I understand that Gray does not want to expand their "funware" line. But my wife loves the material. What she likes, I supply!
If you folks on the "proper" side of the pond can find a suitable replacement for Euroflex, I'll do my Yankee best to send money overseas! I like the fact that we in the world have a PUL, and Funplastic, pvc4you, and a few more. I realize how difficult it is to stay in business when governments want to stamp out anything unique.

But Gaz, I like your products. A D2M (old #), in euroflex, with a modified front (make the zipper 10 inches shorter, and put a placket at the crotch), well, that is my ultimate desire. Oh, and my wife's. Again, I aim to please her.

Gaz, thank you for all the work and products you make. When I retire, I wish to come overseas and be your photographers assistant !!

[pvcdreams.old]

Hi Guys

When we have the Glass clear made we have a small amount of cornflour dusted on to the material which helps wind it on the rolls and easier for us to pull off the rolls. If we had no dust it would be almost impossible due to the pressures involved parting the PVC and pulling off the roll. Also we add some more powder to help process the garment otherwise it would be impossible to work the material over the machines. However if you want to remove this powder simply wash it, rinse it and let it air dry and it will be back to its natural self.

The euroflex material is essentially polyurethane which is an expensive material to manufacture although a lot stronger than PVC. It is harder to work with and all the machines have to be adjusted to weld it which is one good reason why we have stayed away from it. Our friends at Gary manufacturing are not very forthcoming in allowing us to buy the material so bit a of a stalemate really, I suppose we will have to stay welding good old PVC which we are good at.

Dave, if I had a pound for every person who has asked to be my photographic assistant I would be a very rich man by now!

There are going to be a number of major changes at PUL over the coming months and if you receive our newsletters you will hear all about it.

In the meantime enjoy your PVC passion!

Gaz

[raincoatboy]

That is a tough choice. Do you want thin and noisy or thick and quiet. In my opinion I'd love to have thick and quiet. As long as it's shiny I'm ok.

[kulshan]

One thing this forum exposes for sure are the differing tastes we all have for plastic thicknesses and 'soft" or "crisp" hand. Personally I have enjoyed some of the thick AND noisy materials that I've been able to obtain. I do wish that PUL came out with a thick and crackling type of rain suit or raincoat. Have not seen that yet, but maybe there is no market for that. What I've done is had a supplier use frosty clear material form Joanne fabrics in either 8 or 12 mil. 12 mil equates to about 250-300mm. A couple of the suits I have are flexible enough to put on, but pop, crackle and snap extensively as you move around. Sheer bliss for me. Anyone else into that type of product? I"d love to see some conventional raincoats made in the same material.

In the same realm, I've received some kart racing transparent suits from Pakistan that have had the same qualities!

[raincoatboy]

Kulshan, I agree. The few items I bought from you on ebay are so soft and comfy. I sleep in my one piece racing suits all the time.