How are uPVC Windows Manufactured?

Posted Date: Dec 05, 2017

When it comes to revolutionising the look of your home interiors, uPVC profiles for windows plays a major role. uPVC windows in India are quite popular amongst those who believe in modern home design. The aesthetic look, low maintenance, and high durability of uPVC compared to other products such as aluminium and wood make it an outstanding choice for windows. But have you ever wondered how uPVC windows are made?

Well, the answer to the above question lies in first understanding what uPVC is and its important properties.

uPVC and its Properties

uPVC is a type of synthetic polymer that finds many applications in construction. The term stands for unplasticized polyvinyl chloride. While PVC is a very common lightweight material, its weight is reduced and its flexibility is increased with the addition of plasticizers. Therefore, when these additives are not added to the compound, PVC remains ‘unplasticized’, resulting in a more rigid and robust material.

What makes uPVC an optimum construction material is the number of advantageous properties that it possesses:

1. It is highly durable and requires minimal to no maintenance at all.
   2. It comes in various colours and shades, is easy to install and repair, and can be modified according to one’s wishes.
   3. It does not rot and the finish doesn’t fade even after years of usage.
   4. It is an excellent insulating material, thus helping you keep your house warm during the winter and cool during the summer.
   5. It is resistant to pollution, cannot be as easily removed or damaged by burglars as aluminium profiles, and helps keep external noise at bay.

It is due to these properties that uPVC is used in framing and profiling doors and windows. Let’s now take a look at how uPVC windows are manufactured.

Manufacturing Process of uPVC Windows

uPVC starts out as a powder with added stabilisers in an extrusion plant. It is later converted to a molten state, and the liquid is then injected through a die that is shaped into the desired profile (in this case, a window frame). Almost immediately, the profile is rapidly cooled or quenched with water, which allows it to strengthen and solidify. Thereafter, the profiles are cut out at the desired lengths and joined together in the shape of the required window using heat fusion welding. For added reinforcement, galvanised steel sections are fixed inside the profiles.

Later on, specialised glass such as toughened glass and laminated glass is fitted in the profiles to create secure, noise-cancelling, and energy efficient glass windows for use at home or offices.