Heat-transfer vinyl is increasingly being adopted by young businesses and creators who want to get started in textile customization. The two materials used in flocking are PU vinyl (polyurethane) and PVC vinyl (polyvinyl chloride), but telling the two apart is tricky.
That is why today we are going to talk about their characteristics as well as their differences so you can make the right choice when you buy 😉
What is heat-transfer vinyl?
Heat-transfer vinyl lets you press designs onto many types of textile such as polyester t-shirts, cotton sweatshirts, towels, and more.
For example, the printed designs on football jerseys are made with heat-transfer vinyl. 👕
PVC Vinyl
The characteristics of PVC vinyl
As its name suggests, PVC vinyl is made of [polyvinyl chloride](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorure_de_vinyle#:~:text=Le%20poly(chlorure%20de%20vinyle,repr%C3%A9sentant%20de%20la%20famille%20chloropolym%C3%A8res.). This material is strong, but it has low elasticity.
The sturdiness of PVC vinyl also comes from the fact that the rolls made with this material are thick, so they are difficult to tear. However, if the product is put under too much tension, it may crack because of its lack of elasticity.
PVC vinyl is also more rigid than PU vinyl, which gives it a somewhat plasticized feel that some people like and others less so!
Rolls of PVC vinyl generally come at a very reasonable price and their wash resistance is excellent. Most of these vinyls can withstand more than 2 years of washing at 30 degrees!
For example, at Papier-Transfert.fr, our standard PVC vinyl offers the best value for money on the market!
What type of base is it recommended for?
We recommend pressing PVC vinyl onto thick textiles (with a high weight) such as sweatshirts or cushions.
Since this product is a touch thicker than PU vinyl, it will leave a slight raised effect on t-shirts.
After all, that may be exactly the effect you are looking for! 😜
PU Vinyl
Characteristics of PU Vinyl
The main advantage of polyurethane vinyl is that it has high elasticity, which makes it almost untearable once it is bonded to the textile.
PU vinyl is very thin, but that does not make it any less durable. Its flexibility lets it adapt to any environment.
What is more, the thinness of a vinyl is often a sign of quality. Indeed, it can bond perfectly to the fabric and therefore offers great wash resistance. ✅
Polyurethane vinyl is generally more expensive than its PVC counterpart, and this can be explained by several characteristics:
- Polyurethane vinyl is soft and pleasant to the touch
- Once on the textile, it has a professional finish thanks to its matte look.
- As mentioned earlier, the elasticity of PU vinyl gives it a big advantage. However, it is worth noting that the elasticity of PU vinyl makes it slightly harder to weed than PVC vinyl.
What type of base is it recommended for?
PU Vinyl has some of the most remarkable quality on all types of fabric and every thickness! We therefore recommend pressing it onto all textile bases!
The Premium Vinyl in our range is a vinyl made of polyurethane that you will enjoy using to customize clothing every day.
How do you tell them apart easily?
As we said earlier, PVC vinyl is thicker than polyurethane vinyl, so you can compare their weight!
Another tip would be to test the elasticity of the two products: if the product does not stretch well, then it is PVC.
Finally, you can easily tell them apart by comparing their finish, the most matte vinyl being polyurethane.
Application tips 👍
The application of vinyls can vary depending on the different brands and products. As for the vinyls in our PVC and PU range, their application onto textiles is almost identical:
Please press with an iron or a heat press for 15 to 20 seconds at 150 to 160 degrees.
Peeling PVC vinyl is done hot.
For polyurethane vinyl, please wait 30 seconds before peeling.
As you will have understood, PU vinyl and PVC vinyl do not compete with each other, they are each suited to a specific use:
✔️ We recommend using PVC Vinyl for people who are getting started in the world of flocking and who practice this activity for fun.
✔️ If you want to resell your custom creations made with heat-transfer vinyl, you will need the most professional finish. In that case we recommend PU vinyl, which will perfectly meet your expectations.
On the internet, it is impossible to see the difference between PVC heat-transfer vinyl and PU heat-transfer vinyl, and sometimes the material of the product is not even mentioned in the description!
That is why, at Papier-Transfert, we offer the Standard range of PVC vinyl as well as the Premium range of PU vinyl!
This way you will be able to compare the two products to see which one suits you best!
Buy PU Vinyl
Buy PVC Vinyl
Happy creating, everyone!
