Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Polyvinyl chloride is obtained from the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. It is a colorless solid with outstanding resistance to water, alcohols, and alkalis and concentrated acids. Depending on the polymerization system there are the following types of PVC: (e) emulsion, (s) suspension, (m) mass, (sp) special, and depending on use: (g) general purpose and (p) for pastes. The polymer is usually delivered under powder form (rarely pearls for special applications), unstabilized. In PVC various additives are added, such as plasticizers, lubricants, colorants, fillers, etc., which allow a large variety of products with multiple properties, among which we mention:
- rigid (non-plasticized), resulted from formation compounds without plasticizer;
- semi-rigid, with 5-10% plasticized;
- flexible (plasticized), with 10-60% plasticizers;
- plastisols (paste);
- foam (expanded);
- fibers, mono-filaments.
