This overview covers the basics of PVC formulation and processing, while extending the presentation to include the latest developments in materials and technology, making the report useful to technologists and product managers at all levels of the PVC processing industry. The review discusses the different additive types available, along with their applications and their environmental and health effects; the various compounding methods; fabrication and treatment, including surface modification for biocompatibility and reduction of plasticizer migration; and more. This reference tool contains 465 abstracts from Rapra's Polymer Library database.

From the Introduction: “...PVC cannot be processed on its own due to its very low thermal stability and high melt viscosity. Therefore, it is necessary to combine with the polymer a number of suitable additives to give a wide and varied range of properties to satisfy many end-use applications. It is this scope for generating a wide range of properties tharough appropriate formulation that gives PVC a broad application coverage that is unmatched by any other commodity thermoplastic. Its durability...linked to its cost effectiveness, has made it the second largest commodity plastic...”

Rapra Review Reports contain a brief overview of the topic, followed by extensive references, with abstracts, from the Rapra database. They serve as condensed, valuable research tools for scientists, technologists, and other researchers working with rubber or plastics materials.

Target Audience: Researchers, manufacturing technologists, and product managers who are concerned with formulating and processing polyvinyl chloride.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

PVC Industry

Health and Environmental Aspects of PVC

Additives, Formulations and Applications

Compounding and Processing Technology

Fabrication and Treatment

PVC and Sustainable Devlopment

Conclusions

Additional References

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abstracts from the Polymer Library Database

Index