George Henry Hofmann

Polymer Blend Modification of PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins are a family of polymers and copolymers derived from vinyl chloride monomer (CH2 = CHC1). The vinyl chloride content of such resins is usually greater than 85% by weight but in most commercial applications PVC homopolymer (100% vinyl chloride) is used. PVC resins surpass every class of polymers, in worldwide commercial importance, both in diversity of applications and in total tonnage of finished product. PVC compositions generally contain significant amounts of modifying agents (plasticizers, fillers, etc.). The production of such compounded products was estimated to be 10–l5 million metric tons while the PVC resin portion of this tonnage was estimated to be about 8 million metric tons (Western Europe, U.S.A., Canada, Japan) in 1983 (1).

Melt Compounding of PVC with Ethylene Copolymer Resins

Ethylene Copolymer Resin (ECR) modifiers*, designed to be soluble in all proportions in PVC, form a wide variety of plasticized PVC blends. These solid, high molecular weight (Mw >250,000) resin modifiers, unlike conventional liquid plasticizers, do not migrate in PVC.