Most vinyl records are made from polyvinyl chloride, usually shortened to PVC, mixed with small amounts of other ingredients. That compound is softened with heat and pressed into the shape of a disc. Here is what goes into it and why.
The short answer
A modern record is a pressed disc of PVC-based compound with a paper label in the middle. The word “vinyl” in everyday use refers to this plastic. So yes, a vinyl record is a plastic record, though it is a specially formulated one.
PVC resin and copolymers
PVC is a synthetic polymer built from ethylene and chlorine. On its own it is a hard, rigid plastic, and the resin used for records usually arrives at a pressing plant as small pellets or granules. Record compounds are often described as PVC blended with a small proportion of a related copolymer, commonly based on vinyl acetate, which helps the material flow and take fine detail when pressed.
PVC suits records because it softens when heated, flows into a mould, and hardens again as it cools while keeping a detailed impression of the groove.
Additives
A raw resin is rarely used alone. Manufacturers typically add:
- Heat stabilisers, which help the material survive being heated without breaking down.
- Lubricants, which help the compound release cleanly from the stampers.
- Fillers and processing aids, which affect how the compound behaves in the press.
- Colourants, discussed below.
The exact recipe differs from plant to plant and is often kept private, so treat any single set of figures with caution.
Why most records are black
Unpigmented PVC is clear to translucent. Black records generally get their colour from carbon black, a pigment added to the compound. Coloured vinyl, clear vinyl and splatter effects use dyes or different pigments instead. Some listeners report that coloured records can be a bit noisier, but results vary by pressing, so it is not a rule.
Virgin and recycled vinyl
You will see the phrase “virgin vinyl” on many reissues. It refers to compound made from new material rather than ground-up reclaimed records and trimmings. Recycled compound is used for cost and waste reasons, and it can produce more surface noise if it contains contaminants. Quality depends largely on how clean the recycled material is. If you are interested in pressings sold for close listening, see what audiophile vinyl is.
Older and special materials
- Shellac: 78 rpm records were commonly made from shellac, a natural resin, mixed with mineral fillers. They are harder and more brittle than vinyl and are more likely to shatter if dropped.
- Lacquer: the soft coating on the aluminium disc that is cut during mastering. It is a temporary master, not the record you buy. See how records are made.
- Polycarbonate and other discs: some small-run records, especially lathe cut vinyl, are cut into blanks that are not always standard PVC.
- Metal stampers: nickel-based plates that press the groove into the compound. They are tools rather than the material of the record.
How the music gets into the material
The sound is not stored in the plastic as a chemical property. It is a physical pattern. A groove is first cut into a lacquer master, the pattern is transferred to metal stampers, and the stampers then press the same shape into the heated compound. The stylus then follows the wiggles in the groove walls. The anatomy page covers the result in detail: see anatomy of a vinyl record.
Does the material change the sound?
The compound matters mostly through surface noise and how cleanly it holds the groove. A well-made pressing from clean material tends to play quietly. The source recording, the mastering and the quality of the pressing usually have a larger effect than the plastic alone.