Material guide
Gluing PVC
Flexible PVC as found in hoses, sheeting, cables and inflatables.
Also called flexible PVC, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl.
How PVC behaves when you bond it
Flexible PVC contains plasticisers that migrate into the adhesive over time and can soften a bond months after it looked perfect. Adhesives specifically rated for plasticised PVC exist for exactly this reason.
Flexible PVC contains plasticiser and may be fabric-backed or coated. Its surface energy can be lower than rigid PVC, and plasticiser migration can progressively soften a bond, so initial adhesion is not enough to prove durability.
Material properties
- Surface energy
- Medium
- Porosity
- Non-porous
- Rigidity
- Semi-rigid
- Maximum service temperature
- 60C
- Normally needs abrading
- No
- Normally needs a primer
- No
- Solvent sensitive
- Yes. Solvent-based adhesives can craze or dissolve the surface.
- Surface energy
- 33.0000 mJ/m2 (Lowest guide value stated by Permabond for plasticised PVC; formulation can be higher and should not be assumed from rigid PVC.) Manufacturer verified
Surface preparation
Confirm the PVC formulation and backing. Clean and dry; use isopropanol or the product maker's cleaner rather than acetone. Choose a flexible product explicitly rated for plasticised PVC and run aged tests for plasticiser migration, heat and flexing. Do not use rigid-pipe solvent cement on flexible vinyl by assumption.
Which adhesives work on PVC
Good
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Good
UV cure adhesive
UV cure adhesive is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Conditional
Contact adhesive
Contact adhesive is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint.
Bonding PVC to something else
Last reviewed 8 October 2026.