What is Plastisol?

If you have heard the term plastisol and wondered, “What is that?” you are not alone. Many people don’t know what plastisol is, even though this material is one we come in contact with on a regular basis.

The Origins of Plastisol

Plastisol first became popular during World War II when rubber was being rationed for military use. After the war, the use of plastisol in product development continued to grow. Nowadays, you can see plastisol coated items everywhere you go!

Common Uses for Plastisol Include:

• Screen printing for t-shirts
• Medical product development (nasal cannulas, endotracheal tubes, etc.)
• Molded grips for the handles of pliers and other tools
• Toy parts
• Baby spoons
• Plumbing and electrical fittings
• Bumpers

Until now, you probably didn’t realized just how many plastisol products you are surrounded by. And now that you know what plastisol makes, you may also be wondering what plastisol looks like before it is heated and molded into these items.

How is Plastisol Made? 

Plastisol is created from three key ingredients:

• PVC resin
• A plasticizer package
• A stabilizer package

Since it is originally a liquid at room temperature, plastisol is considered a thermoplastic liquid polymer. When in its liquid form, it can be poured into a mold. Then, when heated to the correct temperature in a dip molding oven, the components of plastisol fuse together to form a flexible, vinyl solid that is quite durable.

• Used in a wide array of settings from hospitals to automotive shops, plastisol is both flame retardant and resistant to chemical damage.
• Depending on how your items (either molded from or coated with plastisol) will be used, the plastisol compound can be altered to account for thickness, texture, clarity, chemical requirements and more.

How Does Piper Plastics Use Plastisol? 

Here at Piper Plastics, we use plastisols in our dip coating, dip molding, rotational molding and casting processes. We pride ourselves in being able to formulate our plastisol according to your exact project specifications, including color and hardness.

For more information about plastisol and our custom dip molding and coating processes, visit us online or call us at 800-966-9919.