Definition of vinyl

The word "vinyl" originated from the Greek word "kìnion", which means "acid". In the late 19th century, chemists discovered that the polymerization of vinyl chloride – a compound they isolated from petroleum – resulted in a flexible, translucent material that could potentially replace rubber, an expensive and scarce resource during that time. This material was initially called "vinyl plastic" or "vinyl chloride resin", but later shortened to just "vinyl" around the 1930s, when the production and use of vinyl products began to increase rapidly. The name stuck, and vinyl became commonly associated with a wide range of materials and products, from flooring and siding to packaging and recording media. Today, vinyl is a versatile and widely used material in various industries, due to its durability, affordability, and ease of production.