Insulation Type: PVC


Trade Names(the following are common tradenames used for PVC insulation)
  • Quad 4(PVC)


Aircraft on which PVC has been used/found
  • A-10 (No dates available)
  • Boeing 707 (No dates available)
  • Boeing 727 (No dates available)
  • Boeing 737 (No dates available)
  • Bulldog (No dates available)
  • C-130 Hercules (No dates available)
  • Canberra (No dates available)
  • Chinook (No dates available)
  • DC-8 (No dates available)
  • DC-9 (No dates available)
  • Dominie (No dates available)
  • Gazelle (No dates available)
  • Hawk (No dates available)
  • BAe Jetstream (No dates available)
  • Nimrod (No dates available)
  • Puma (No dates available)
  • Sea King (No dates available)
  • VC-10 (No dates available)

*Note: Some of the older aircraft types of insulation may have replaced by the original wire. The listings of aircraft are not complete, especially with those special uses, e.g., engine areas, electronic boxes, etc.


Mil Specs and other Standards using PVC
  • BMS 13-13 (Boeing)
  • MIL-W-5086/1
  • MIL-W-5086/2
  • MIL-W-16878/1
  • MIL-W-16878/2
  • MIL-W-16878/3
  • MIL-W-16878/17
  • MIL-W-16878/18
  • MIL-W-16878/19
  • SAE-AS5086/4
  • SAE-AS5086/5
  • SAE-AS5086/6
  • SAE-AS5086/1
  • SAE-AS5086/2
  • SAE-AS5086/7

Advantages: Good resistance to chafing Resists attack by commonly expected fluids


Disadvantages: Out-gassing of harmful HCl Loss of Dimension and Weight over time Discolors with moderate heating Produces harmful gasses and smoke when it burns Very heavy: 6.8 pounds/1000 feet (10 kg/km) 6.3 pounds/ 1000 ft (9.3 kg/km) without a glass insulator layer In some instances the nylon has been shed due to splitting from manufacturing flaws Dissolves or softens in solvents used for PVC piping – e.g., methyl ethyl ketone and tetrahydrofuran

Other Information: Often stabilizers and plasticizers are added Thermoplastic polymer unless cross-linked Only insulation with MIL-W-16878/1 through /3 Moderate radiation resistance (~ 10^7 Rd)


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