What are the Differences Between Silicone and PVC Patches?

PVC is one of the most popular types of patches that we offer at Monterey Company. However PVC, while being bendable and durable, is in fact not entirely rubber! It’s a common mistake we’ve run into, so whenever a new client asks for a rubber patch we will by default use PVC patches. We wanted to let you know the difference between PVC and Silicone. Mainly in case the differences between the two malleable patches affects which patch you decide to use for your custom project.

PVC Patches

What is PVC?

PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is a polymer of multiple plastic materials. It’s more rigid than silicone and can be made even harder in production by adding polymers to the plastic combination. It’s the most common ‘rubber’ patch, even though it’s not even technically rubber.

Benefits of PVC

The biggest shine for PVC is that it is cheaper than silicone overall. The material is easier to make compared to silicone, meaning it’s less costly to produce PVC en masse. Because PVC is also thicker and sturdier than silicone, it’s a better choice for if you’re going to be seeing a lot of use that would cause wear or tear damage to your patch.

Silicone Patches

What is Silicone?

Silicone is a rubber polymer that is created by passing silicon through different hydrocarbons, making a malleable and much lighter material. This is what we know as the “real rubber” patch, but we only use it if you ask for silicone in specific. This is simply because so many people know PVC as rubber instead, which is fine!

Benefits of Silicone

Silicone is more malleable compared to PVC. It’s made of recyclable materials, which is a better choice for those who are more world-conscious producing their patches. Silicone is also produced to be much more resistant to heat, cold, ultraviolet light, and ozone effects. This makes silicone much more efficient if your patch is going to be seeing a lot of outside use. However, because of the material that silicone is made of and the environmentally friendly production, silicone is going to be more expensive than PVC.

Does My Design Affect If I Should Use PVC or Silicone?

No it does not! We ensure your design is production ready whether you choose to use PVC or silicone for your custom patch. The base material is more for considering what you are planning to do with your patch once you have it. The design is something we can bring to life with whichever patch you decide on using!