Two types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) homopolymer are produced: rigid resins which have considerable strength and hardness; and flexible resins that contain a large proportion of plasticisers to make them soft and stretchable.
Rigid PVC resins are mainly extruded or moulded to make pipe and conduit, fittings, windows, roof tiles, fencing and automobile parts. Flexible PVC finds outlets in film and sheets, wire and cable coating, flooring, shower curtains and synthetic leather products.
Polyvinyl chloride consumption is mostly influenced by the construction industry and so demand correlates closely with economic growth. The global PVC market has been growing around 4%/year with strongest demand growth seen in Asia, in particular China and India. China has been very dependent on imported PVC to meet its growth but this dependence could end by 2010.
Polymerisation is normally performed at 40-70oC with the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in a liquid state under pressure in a batch reactor. Suspension polymerisation is the most common PVC process because the resins produced are the most versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications.
Polyvinyl chloride occurs as white, amorphous, odourless powder. PVC is stable under normal temperatures and pressures but above 80oC the resin discolours and evolves hydrogen chloride.
Polyvinyl chloride
Price Reports
ICIS pricing gives you access to a quarterly overview of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market, including any major price movements, key developments and market commentary.
More about Polyvinyl chloride Price Reports
Polyvinyl chloride
Uses and Outlook
Two types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) homopolymer are produced: rigid resins which have considerable strength and hardness; and flexible resins that contain a large proportion of plasticisers to make them soft and stretchable.
More about Polyvinyl chloride Uses and Outlook
Polyvinyl chloride
Process Technologies
A number of PVC processes are employed according to the end application, but polymerisation is normally performed at 40-70oC with the VCM in a liquid state under pressure in a batch reactor. All routes employ free radical initiators which are either soluble in the monomer or in the aqueous solution.
More about Polyvinyl chloride Process Technologies
Search for
Polyvinyl chloride
Suppliers
If you are sourcing
Polyvinyl chloride
products and services, use ICIS search for fast and accurate results. ICIS search
is the search engine dedicated to the chemical industry – we show you only relevant
results -
search now.
Polyvinyl chloride
Plants and Projects
Get the latest information on global
Polyvinyl chloride
plants and projects