Formation and structure of PVC particles

Abstract

AbstractParticles present in commercial suspension and mass PVC polymers possess a wide range of sizes and structures. This paper concentrates on the influence of the processes on the formation and morphology of these particles.Suspension polymer particles are usually fairly irregular in shape and have an outer “skin” which often extends over the entire surface of the particle and this skin is frequently ruptured. Studies have indicated that the outer skin is formed during the early stages of polymerisation. Suspension PVC particles may have varying degrees of internal porosity which often consist of two types of pore, namely small interstitial voids between sub‐particles or “microgranules” and much larger voids which are often lined with skin. The size and structure of these particles is dependent on agitation conditions in the reactor, colloid stability and the interfacial tension of the vinyl chloride/aqueous phase system.Mass PVC is produced commercially by a two stage process. In many respects, the polymer produced is similar to suspension PVC but there are important morphological differences. Mass polymer has no “skin”, a microgranular structure persists from the particle surfaces to their interiors, and the voids, which constitute the internal porosity, are of the small type of interstices between microgranules. The particle number appears to be dependent on conditions prevailing in the first stage of the polymerisation while the final particle morphology is also influenced by the conditions in the second stage of the process.