Vinyl By Design: A Proven Material in sofa making Environment

 Another type of cover used in sofa other than leather & fabric is vinyl,
 or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).Vinyl is a versatile, durable material that can be
 made rigid or flexible, textured or smooth, and in nearly any color or
 shape. Blending many attributes of traditional materials with advanced
 technologies, vinyl is a proven material in many field ,especially in furniture
 trade.This continuing education section will explore vinyl's inherent
 characteristic , its invention and development, the manufacturing process
 for vinyl.
 Invention and Development
 Vinyl's Beginning. Although scientists first synthesized vinyl in 1872, no scientist had done anything more than study and record its properties until 1926, when Dr. Waldo Semon, a researcher with The BFGoodrich Company in Akron, Ohio, began to experiment with it.
Searching for materials that could replace rubber in tires at a time          when the supply of natural rubber was dwindling, Dr. Semon  mixed certain additives into the compound, producing a flexible  substance that was waterproof and versatile. The revolutionary new material was put to use in coated fabrics, rainwear, shower curtains and shoes. Vinyl provided water-resistant qualities that no other material could provide.

One of the first commercial uses for vinyl in the built environment was as wire and cable insulation, replacing the heavy rubber insulation and textile jacketing so prone to damage and  dampness. Vinyl's use in electrical applications represented a  major advancement in fire safety, since vinyl has inherent fire-resistant characteristics. The U.S. Armed Forces were among the first to adopt vinyl-jacketed wiring during World War II, after a
fatal submarine fire involving rubber and textile cables.
Decades of Vinyl Growth and Expansion. In the post-war years, vinyl's use in buildings grew rapidly. Facing a  major rebuilding challenge and a shortage of traditional materials,German manufacturers developed window frames from this new material. These windows had a bulky, heavy-duty appearance that German consumers wanted, but which was not well accepted by Americans who were accustomed to larger viewing areas and
narrower frames. Vinyl windows were later reintroduced to the U.S. marketplace in styles similar to wood and aluminum, and grew quickly in popularity.
The Manufacturing Process
Vinyl is derived from petroleum (or natural gas) and salt.Petroleum/natural gas is heated to create ethylene; salt is subjected to electrolysis to separate out the natural element chlorine. Ethylene and chlorine are then combined under heat to make vinyl chloride monomer gas, which is converted into a fine, white powder - vinyl resin.
Compounding and Processing.
One more important step - compounding - remains before the resin comes a usable material. Combining resin with selected liquid and powder additives and modifiers, followed by re-heating and cooling, produces small, hard pellets the size of BBs. In this form vinyl can  be re-melted at any time and made into final products. Depending  on the additives "package" selected, vinyl can be made flexible  enough for wallcovering or rigid enough for pipe, can have nearly  any texture or pattern, and can be made clear or in virtually any color. Its durability, resistance to the elements and fire
performance are all characteristics affected by the compounding
process.
Fire Performance. Vinyl building products are based on a naturally fire retardant polymer, meaning that generally they are slow to catch fire, their flame spread is slow and they cease to burn after the flame source is removed.Firefighters recognize that a fire's most toxic by-product is carbon
monoxide. When burning, all organic materials produce carbon monoxide to varying degrees. Vinyl produces less than most, which is why vinyl is often specified for use in buildings.
Low Maintenance
Because colors are compounded into vinyl products early in the manufacturing process, they do not need paint, stain or other surface treatments to maintain their original appearance. Vinyl products are known for being easy to keep clean. Most furniture should be kept out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause color fading, fabric deterioration, and wood furniture to dry out and crack. All upholstered furniture should be vacuumed frequently to remove surface dust and dirt before it has a chance to work its way deep into the fiber structure. Dust and dirt can
weaken fabrics and shorten their useful life. If the furniture has removable seat cushions, the deck area (the part of the sofa where the cushions sit on) should also be vacuumed frequently.Spills should be wiped out immediately.  Additional cleaning techniques depend on the type of fabric (see below). If your furniture is upholstered in a light color, be it fabric, leather, or vinyl, certain types of clothing (in particular bluejeans) may easily
transfer their dyes to the upholstery, especially if the clothing is wet. If the seat cushions are removable, they should be reversed every time that you vacuum. Depending on the individual cushion style, you  may have to "reverse ends" whereby the left facing cushion gets reversed and now becomes the right facing cushion. Generally,cushions on sofas and loveseats are not interchangeable with each other.

        The greatest enemy of vinyl upholstered furniture is body and pet
        oils that are deposited through normal use. These oils will cause
        cracking and hardening of the material, greatly reducing the useful life
        of the product. Weekly washing (using a sponge) with a solution of
        mild household detergent and water should remove this harmful
        substance. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove
        traces of the detergent as this could also be harmful to the material.

        There are two main types of leather that are used in upholstered
        furniture. The first is a glazed finish that most of us are familiar with. It
        can be cared for similar to the instructions for Vinyl Upholstered
        Furniture being careful to not over water or saturate the surface. The
        other type of leather used is called nubuck or suede. This means
        that the leather surface is not smooth and shiny, but rather dull and
        porous. Cleaning nubuck should be left to a professional.

        Polyurethane finished furniture can be distinguished by a high
        gloss finish and a very smooth surface (almost like a glass finish).
        "Lacquer" finished furniture (primarily sold in white or black) most
        always is actually finished in polyurethane. Since the surface is like
        glass, no polishes will penetrate the surface to nourish the wood,
        cleaning can be accomplished with a soft damp cloth. If necessary,
        use a surface cleaner that does not contain ammonia. Ammonia will
        cloud the finish.

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