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Comparative analysis of the quality of PVC coated wire made from raw material and recycled material:

I. Physical properties

1. Strength:

   • Raw material: Composed of direct raw materials, the molecular structure is relatively regular, resulting in excellent strength. When used as coated wire, it can withstand large tensile and impact forces, and is not prone to breakage or deformation, ensuring the stability and reliability of the product during long-term use.
   • Recycled material: After recycling and reprocessing, the molecular structure is damaged to a certain extent during high-temperature treatment, leading to a decrease in strength. When subjected to external forces, it is more likely to break, shortening the service life of the coated wire.

2. Toughness:

   • Raw material: It has good toughness. Under bending and torsion conditions, it can maintain good elasticity and is not easily broken. This enables PVC coated wire made from raw material to better adapt to various complex working conditions during processing and use.
   • Recycled material: Due to high-temperature processing, the brittleness of recycled material increases and the toughness decreases. In use, cracking and brittle fracture may occur due to insufficient toughness, especially in low-temperature environments.

II. Chemical properties

1. Corrosion resistance:

   • Raw material: The composition is relatively pure. After being combined with galvanized wire for coating processing, it can form a uniform and dense coating, providing good protection to the internal metal wire and having strong corrosion resistance. It can resist the erosion of acids, alkalis, salts and other chemicals and is suitable for various harsh environmental conditions.
   • Recycled material: Due to the presence of more impurities and residual additives, these impurities may react with chemicals, reducing the corrosion resistance of the coated wire. In long-term contact with chemicals, the coating of recycled material coated wire is prone to corrosion, peeling and other phenomena, thus affecting the service life of the product.

2. Stability:

   • Raw material: Under normal use environments, it has good chemical stability and is not prone to decomposition, aging and other phenomena. Its performance can remain stable for a long time, ensuring the quality and use effect of the coated wire.
   • Recycled material: After multiple processing and uses, its molecular chain has undergone a certain degree of degradation, and its chemical stability is poor. Under the action of environmental factors such as sunlight and high temperature, it is more prone to aging, discoloration and other problems, affecting the appearance and performance of the coated wire.

III. Appearance quality

1. Color:

   • Raw material: The base color is the original color, which is uniform, pure, bright in color and long-lasting. During the production process, color powder can be added according to customer needs to adjust to various desired colors, and the color consistency is good without color difference.
   • Recycled material: Due to the diverse and complex sources of raw materials, it is difficult to achieve accurate color control during the color matching process, resulting in possible color deviations. The color is not as bright as that of raw materials, and there may even be black spots and impurities, affecting the appearance quality of the product.

2. Surface flatness:

   • Raw material: During the processing, it has good fluidity and can evenly adhere to the surface of galvanized wire, forming a smooth and flat coating with a good surface texture and beautiful appearance.
   • Recycled material: Due to the uneven composition and poor fluidity, during the coating process, problems such as uneven coating thickness and rough surface may occur, affecting the appearance and use performance of the product.

IV. Environmental friendliness

1. Raw material: The production process has relatively little pollution to the environment and complies with relevant environmental protection standards and requirements. During use, it will not release harmful substances and is harmless to human health and environmental safety.
2. Recycled material: Some recycled materials may have irregular sources and may contain harmful substances such as lead and cadmium. During processing and use, these harmful substances may be released, posing a potential threat to human health. Moreover, the production process of recycled materials requires a large amount of energy and resources, which also has an impact on the environment.

V. Service life

1. Raw material: With excellent performance in various aspects, it has a long service life. Under normal use and maintenance conditions, it can maintain good performance and provide long-term use value for users.
2. Recycled material: Due to the disadvantages in physical and chemical properties, its service life is relatively short. During use, various quality problems are prone to occur, requiring frequent replacements, increasing the user's use cost and maintenance cost.

Here are some methods to judge whether PVC coated wire is made of raw material or recycled material:

一、Appearance inspection

1. Color:
   • Raw material PVC coated wire usually has a uniform and bright color. The color is consistent throughout the wire, without obvious color differences or discoloration.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may have an uneven color, with some areas being darker or lighter. There may also be color fading or a dull appearance.
2. Surface texture:
   • Raw material PVC coated wire has a smooth and even surface. The coating is tightly adhered to the wire, without bubbles, cracks, or roughness.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may have a rougher surface texture. There may be visible defects such as bubbles, cracks, or uneven coating thickness.

二、Physical property tests

1. Tensile strength:
   • Raw material PVC coated wire generally has higher tensile strength. It can withstand greater pulling forces without breaking easily.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may have lower tensile strength and be more prone to breakage under the same amount of force.
2. Flexibility:
   • Raw material PVC coated wire is more flexible and can be bent and twisted without cracking or losing its shape.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may be less flexible and more likely to develop cracks or permanent deformations when bent.

三、Chemical analysis

1. Burn test:
   • Conduct a burn test on a small section of the PVC coated wire. Raw material PVC coated wire will burn in a relatively controlled manner. The flame is usually steady and the smoke is less intense. The residue after burning is relatively clean.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may burn differently. The flame may be unstable, produce more smoke, and leave a more complex residue.
2. Solvent resistance:
   • Expose the PVC coated wire to certain solvents. Raw material PVC coated wire is likely to have better resistance to solvents. The coating will not easily dissolve or deteriorate.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may show signs of degradation or dissolution more quickly when in contact with solvents.

四、Check product documentation and certifications

1. Product labels and specifications:
   • Look for detailed product labels and specifications on the packaging or the wire itself. Reputable manufacturers of raw material PVC coated wire will provide clear information about the materials used, manufacturing process, and quality standards.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may have less detailed or inaccurate labels.
2. Certifications:
   • Check for relevant certifications such as ISO quality management system certification, environmental certifications, or product specific certifications. These certifications can provide some assurance that the PVC coated wire is made of high-quality raw materials and meets certain standards.
   • Recycled material PVC coated wire may lack these certifications or have certifications from less recognized organizations.

Additional Resources

• To Recycle or Not to Recycle – PVC Cable Waste
• A Brief Review of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Recycling
• Recycling of LDPE-PVC Blends from Cable Waste
• Latest trends and challenges in PVC and copper recovery