PVC / vinyon

Overview

Chlorinated vinyl-polymer fibers. A PVC-coated fabric is a separate construction and may have a different underlying fiber.

Feel and behavior

Grade-dependent synthetic fiber.

Where you find it

Historical specialty textiles and technical applications.

Source and geography

PVC fibers are spun from poly(vinyl chloride), made by polymerizing vinyl chloride monomer, which is produced from ethylene and chlorine. Fiber production is small and specialized compared with PVC pipes, films and coatings. Fibers based on vinyl chloride, alone or copolymerized with related monomers, serve flame-retardant furnishings, filter fabrics, doll hair and wigs, and binder fibers in nonwovens. PVC-coated fabrics are a separate construction whose base fabric is usually polyester or another fiber, so a 'PVC' textile may contain no PVC fiber at all.

Worth knowing

• Vinyon HH, one of the early US vinyl fibers, was about 86 percent vinyl chloride and 14 percent vinyl acetate.
• Vinyon fibers soften at low temperatures, so they were used as heat-sealing binders, including in tea bags.

Types, grades and fabrics

Types and grades

PVC-based fibers include homopolymer PVC, after-chlorinated PVC and copolymers. Vinyon HH, an early US type, was spun from a copolymer of about 86 percent vinyl chloride and 14 percent vinyl acetate, while Vinyon N was a vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile copolymer. The American Viscose Corporation was manufacturing a vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate fiber by 1939. In the EU these fibers are labeled chlorofibre. Types differ in heat stability, shrinkage and softening temperature, and some staple is left unstabilized to act as a binder. Trade names such as Rhovyl and Thermolactyl have been used for chlorofibres, but availability varies.

Fabrics and products

Chlorofibre is used in thermal underwear and base layers, often blended with acrylic; Damart's Thermolactyl products, for example, list chlorofibre and acrylic. Vinyon fibers act as binders in nonwovens and heat-sealable papers and were historically used in tea bags. PVC fibers also appear in filter fabrics, flame-retardant furnishings, wigs and doll hair. Many products called 'PVC fabric' are actually polyester or cotton base fabrics coated with PVC, used in rainwear, tarpaulins and upholstery, and should be distinguished from PVC fibers.

Buying and care

How to judge quality

Check whether a product contains PVC fiber or a PVC coating; the label should list base fibers and the coating separately. For thermal underwear, look for chlorofibre content, soft knit and even texture. Chlorofibre garments are prone to shrinkage if washed hot, so look for clear care labels. For coated fabrics, check coating thickness, flexibility and adhesion, and ask about plasticizers, since some phthalates are restricted. Strong chemical odors may indicate plasticizer or solvent residues. In the US, the generic name vinyon applies to fibers mostly of vinyl chloride units.

Care in detail

Wash chlorofibre and PVC fiber garments in cool or lukewarm water only, as the label specifies, since hot water can cause severe shrinkage. Use a mild detergent and a gentle cycle or hand washing. Do not tumble dry; dry flat or hang away from radiators and direct heat. Do not iron, as the fiber softens and shrinks at low temperatures. For PVC-coated fabrics, wipe clean with mild soap and water, avoid solvents that can extract plasticizers, and store unfolded or loosely rolled away from heat to prevent cracking.

Care at a glance

Follow the complete product’s care label. Blends, dyes, finishes and construction can change suitable washing, drying and storage.

Environmental and social footprint

PVC production depends on chlorine and ethylene, and the vinyl chloride monomer is a known human carcinogen, requiring strict worker and emission controls. A 2022 report for the European Commission reviewed PVC in the context of a non-toxic environment, examining additives such as plasticizers and stabilizers and end-of-life issues. When PVC burns, it releases hydrogen chloride and can form dioxins under poor combustion, a concern for incineration and fires. PVC fibers and coatings do not biodegrade and are difficult to recycle when combined with other textiles. Fiber volumes are small compared with PVC coatings, pipes and films, so impacts are often discussed at the level of PVC as a whole.

Tradeoffs

Origin, processing inputs, labor, product construction and useful lifetime all need specific evidence. The name alone does not establish responsible production.

A useful question to ask: What exact material, product form and documented producer stand behind this name?

Science

Engineered organic polymer

Polymer chemistry and fiber-forming conditions determine the starting material.

Structure and chemistry

The repeat unit is -CH2-CHCl-, so chlorine makes up a large share of the polymer's mass. The polar carbon-chlorine bond gives strong interchain dipole interactions, and ordinary PVC is largely atactic with low crystallinity. Its glass transition lies not far above room temperature, so PVC fibers soften and shrink at modest temperatures unless the polymer is modified, for example by further chlorination or copolymerization. The high chlorine content gives inherent flame retardancy and resistance to many acids and alkalis. Forensic studies of synthetic wigs report PVC fibers blended with modacrylic, with cross-sections that vary by product.

From source to yarn

Vinyl chloride is polymerized, commonly in suspension, and the resin is either dissolved in volatile organic solvents for dry or wet spinning or, with heat stabilizers and sometimes plasticizers, melt-extruded into monofilament. Melt processing is limited because PVC loses hydrogen chloride near its processing temperatures, so stabilizers are essential. Spun filaments are drawn to orient the chains, heat-stabilized to control shrinkage, then crimped and cut for staple or used as filament. Some staple is deliberately left unstabilized so it shrinks or softens on heating, which lets it act as a binder in nonwoven webs.

Performance in use

PVC fibers are hydrophobic, rot- and mildew-resistant and resist many acids and alkalis. Their chlorine content makes them difficult to ignite and self-extinguishing. The drawback is heat: they shrink and soften at temperatures reached in hot washing, tumble drying and ironing, which restricts care to cool processes and keeps them out of most apparel. They build static charge readily. Dyeing is limited, so color is usually added before spinning. On combustion they release hydrogen chloride and other hazardous gases, a concern in enclosed spaces.

How it is identified

Burn tests are indicative only and release corrosive fumes, so they should be avoided indoors: PVC fibers shrink strongly from the flame, char, self-extinguish and give an acrid, chlorinated smell. A copper-wire flame test indicates halogen but not the specific polymer. FTIR identifies carbon-chlorine bands and separates PVC from modacrylic, which also shows nitrile absorption. Forensic examiners combine cross-section shape with infrared spectra.

History

Timeline

1. 1939The American Viscose Corporation was manufacturing a vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate copolymer fiber, sold as vinyon. [1]
2. 2011Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 set the EU fibre names, including chlorofibre for vinyl chloride based fibers. [2]
3. 2017A forensic study of commercial synthetic wigs recorded PVC fibers alongside modacrylic and polypropylene. [3]
4. 2022A report for the European Commission reviewed PVC additives and end-of-life issues in the context of a non-toxic environment. [4]

Vinyon belongs to an earlier generation of manufactured fiber categories. Its history should be distinguished from the much broader use of PVC coatings.

The deeper record

Vinyl chloride fibers belong to an early generation of fully synthetic textile fibers, and vinyon is one of the older generic names in the US list. Their low softening temperature kept them out of mainstream apparel, but flame and chemical resistance secured niches in filtration, furnishings, wigs and protective uses. The wider history of PVC in textiles is dominated less by fibers than by coated fabrics, and by health concerns about vinyl chloride monomer, a recognized human carcinogen, which led to much tighter control of monomer exposure in production plants.

Labeling and law

In the United States, fibers made predominantly of vinyl chloride units are labeled under the generic name vinyon from 16 CFR 303.7, and related chlorinated fibers may fall under other generic names depending on composition; 'PVC' alone is not a generic fiber name. In the EU, the fibre name must come from Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011. A PVC-coated textile should be described by the fibers of its base fabric, with the coating identified separately as a finish or component.

This describes what rules and standards cover. It is not legal advice; jurisdiction, product form and current rule text control.

Frequently asked

What is chlorofibre?

Chlorofibre is the EU name for fibers made mostly from chlorinated vinyl units, such as polyvinyl chloride. It is used in thermal underwear, where it is often blended with acrylic. In the US, similar fibers are labeled vinyon.

Is PVC clothing made of PVC fiber?

Usually not. Most shiny 'PVC' clothing and rainwear is a polyester or cotton fabric coated with PVC. PVC fibers, known as chlorofibre or vinyon, are a separate, smaller category used in thermals, binders and filters.

Why does chlorofibre underwear shrink?

PVC fibers soften at relatively low temperatures, so hot washing, tumble drying or ironing can cause severe shrinkage. Follow the care label, wash cool and air dry to keep the garment's size and shape.

Is PVC fiber safe to wear?

PVC fibers have long been worn in thermal underwear, and the sources reviewed here identify no specific hazard from normal wear. The documented concerns are hazardous gases if the fiber burns, vinyl chloride in production, additives in coated products and end-of-life handling.

Sources

• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Manufactured-fiber reference
• eCFR: 16 CFR 303.7, Generic names and definitions for manufactured fibers
• EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names
• Forensic Science International: Cross-sectional shapes and FTIR profiles in synthetic wig fibers (2017)
• MFA Boston CAMEO: Vinyon fiber
• Publications Office of the EU: The use of PVC (poly vinyl chloride) in the context of a non-toxic environment
• Legislation.gov.uk: Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011, Annex VIII (chlorofibres)

Cite this page

Chaos. (2026). PVC / vinyon. In Fibers of Earth: An independent textile atlas. https://www.hendrickresearch.com/fibers/materials/pvc/