For more detailed information, please read the material below:
The Raw Materials
Only virgin PVC resin is used in the manufacturing of our products.
Virgin vinyl is the term for vinyl products that do not contain PVC
from regrind or recycled products. These recycled products, which may
contain impurities or lower grade vinyl, could be imported into an extrusion
plant and seriously affect the resilience, impact resistance, and UV
inhibiting properties of the final finished product. In addition to
the PVC resin, additives like Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and impact modifiers
are added to protect the finished product from harmful UV rays and increase
the impact resistance. Water or moisture in the air is necessary for
this product to be effective. There are at least two grades of TiO2:
uncoated (or chalking) grade and coated (or durable, non-chalking) grade.
The non-chalking—and more expensive—grade chalks at a much
slower rate, providing a more lustrous finish over the life of the product
it protects. Titanium dioxide is nontoxic. In fact, it is used as a
preservative and is also used to color baked goods, such as the popular
white-powdered donuts!
Chalking is the deterioration of the vinyl surface, thereby exposing
the TiO2 particles to the surface. The white powder chalking that can
be wiped from the surface of most vinyl fences is TiO2 particles mixed
with deteriorating vinyl (PVC). Trinity’s profiles have durable-grade;
non-chalking TiO2 resulting in very minimal chalking. All vinyl fencing
will chalk sooner or later, but with the superior protection capabilities
of our TiO2, it is kept to a minimum. Our vinyl products are formulated
for exceptional beauty over a lifetime.
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The
Extrusion Process
There are two methods of vinyl profile manufacture: mono-extrusion (single
stream) and co-extrusion (two concentric streams).
Co-Extrusion vs. Mono Extrusion
Co-extrusion and mono-extrusion are the manufacturing processes typically
used in the production of all types of PVC-extruded products such as
vinyl siding, vinyl window and door frames, pipe, and vinyl fence products.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has specifications
for each product line. The buyer should be aware of which specifications
are being used by the extruder. Fence products using pipe specifications
are being produced by 40% of the fence extruders. The pipe specs have
lower demands for UV stabilization and impact resistance.
• Mono-Extrusion
The mono-extrusion (or monolayer extrusion) process blends the elements
of the PVC compound extruded through the die to become the walls of
the single layer product.
• Co-Extrusion
Co-extrusion is the newest technology used for shaping PVC products.
Two or more layers are produced: The outer layer (or cap stock) is similar
to a “skin.” It contains a denser concentration of the essential
elements (including UV inhibitors) and protects like a sunscreen when
exposed to harmful UV rays. ASTM’s specification for rigid PVC
exterior profiles used for fencing (Link to F 964-94) requires the cap
stock layer to be a minimum of 0.015 inches thick and a maximum of 20%
of the profile wall overall thickness. It is important for the buyer
to determine what ASTM specification is being used by the extrusion
supplier to determine the supplier’s compliance with ASTM standards.
The inner layer (or substrate), when produced from virgin materials,
is essentially the same as the cap stock, but with a lesser quantity
of UV inhibitors and, possibly, a color (or pigment) differential. This
promotes an improved molecular bond by the impact modifiers in the substrate
compound and results in a stronger product. Usually, rails and posts
are also co-extruded to comply with ASTM F 964-94.
• Co-Extrusion with Regrind
Some manufacturers outsource recycled plastics (known as regrind) for
use in the substrate profiles for cost savings. They may emphasize that
only waste vinyl fence products are used, but it is impossible to control
the content of this material. It cannot be determined how many times
the material has already been reprocessed. Multiple reprocessing usually
results in a more brittle and inferior product. The exact chemical composition
of the waste product material cannot be verified and a poor extrusion
may result. All of our products, whether mono- or co-extruded, contain
only virgin—non-outsourced and non-recycled—materials.
Dispelling Myths
One popular misconception is that a color differential between the cap
stock and the substrate indicates regrind in the substrate. However,
this is not necessarily so. If color pigments are decreased in a virgin
substrate, a different hue in color may result. Conversely, a regrind
substrate may be exactly the same color as the cap stock; giving the
impression that mono-extrusion is used.
Another misconception is that the co-extrusion process is inferior to
mono-extrusion. Co-extrusion is the newer, more expensive technology
and supports concentration of the essential materials, resulting in
a stronger, more durable product—the customer receives more value
per dollar. Claims of the inferiority of high-tech co-extrusion may
be made by manufacturers who cannot afford retooling or do not support
this new generation of advanced processing.
Thirdly, there are claims that the layers in co-extruded products may
delaminate. Co-extrusion is not lamination. Lamination is a process
whereby adhesives or reheating are used to bond two or more layers together.
Co-extrusion is a homogenous process accomplished at high pressure and
temperature in a sealed environment where moisture and air cannot be
trapped. Co-extrusion produces superior product without the use of adhesives,
making separation of the layer virtually impossible.
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Indicators of inferior product quality:
• Striation lines along the face of the profiles (look for drag
lines all along the length of the profile)
• Low gloss (possibly indicating inferior additives in the cap
stock)
• Corner radius measurements that show inequalities from one
side of the profile to the other, or from one profile to another,
indicating lower quality control procedures
• Grey back (dark grey or brown inside usually indicates a high
content of recycled materials used)
• Thin cap stock (the cap stock thickness may be so thin that
it looks like it was painted on or is very irregular)
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Fabrication
Our high standards do not stop with the superior quality of the raw
materials. Fabrication and quality assurance/quality control are the
next steps in delivering the best vinyl products in our industry. Trinity
Vinyl Products has been providing fence, deck, and railing for over
a decade. All of our fence and rail systems are fabricated using CNC
routing equipment and software which insures tolerances within 1000
ths of an inch. Our fence systems are designed to interconnect through
routed components, eliminating the need for unsightly brackets. This
insures a much more durable and aesthetically pleasing finished product.
Our broad range of high quality raw materials, state of the art equipment,
and experienced fabrication personnel allows us to offer unlimited custom
styles of fence and railing systems within a 5-7 day period in most
cases.
Lifetime Warranty
Trinity Vinyl’s products carry a lifetime transferable warranty
for defects in material and workmanship. In the course of normal and
proper use, Trinity Vinyl Products fence, railings, and accessories
will not peel, blister, flake, rot, corrode, rust, or be damaged by
termites. A detailed written warranty is available for your review.
High-Quality Service
The Trinity Vinyl Products’ staff is able to assist you in turning
your project into reality. We are committed to delivering “Fine
Quality & Lasting Beauty” through our superior products and
unmatched level of customer service from start to finish.
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