By: Nathan Decker & Will Ennis

PVC Plastic

Advantages Of Continuing To Manufacture PVCPVC is used in almost all everyday items

Commercially: pipes, window frames, sewer systems, rain gutters, siding, airplanes, factory machines, car parts, toys to name a few

Personal Use: water bottles, vinyl records, credit cards, wall papers, flooring, garden furniture, binders, and pens

Clothing: when PVC is treated with a plasticizer, it can be used in clothing material

90 % of the plasticizer market is consumed by PVC products

What Exactly Is PVC?PVC stands for polyvinyl chlorideIt is the third most commonly made plasticIt is used in construction the most because it is

durable, affordable, and easy to work withPVC is a polymer, which is made up of chains or

rings of linked unitsPVC is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and 57 %

chlorinePolymers usually have high melting and boiling

points 100-260C

Petroleum In PVC43 % of molecular weight of PVC comes from oilPVC is the least dependent plastic on oilOnly 4 % of the total oil demand is used to make

plasticsOnly 1/8 of the 4 % is used to make PVC

History of PVCPVC is one of the oldest synthetic materials and

the longest history in industrial manufacturingPVC was accidently discovered on at least two

different occasions in the 1800s-once in 1838 by a French Chemist and again in 1872 by a German scientist

In 1913 a german inventor patented his production of PVC

In the 1950`s, the volume of PVC production increased through out the world

During this time PVC became known as what we still call it to this day-vinyl

Durability of PVCLong-term - 64%:

Pipes, windows, doors, furniture, etc. Its useful life goes from 15 to 100 years.

Medium-term - 24%:Electric appliances, cars, tapestry, hoses, toys, etc. Its useful life goes from 2 to 15 years.

Short term - 12%:Bottles, packaging, blisters. Its useful life goes from 0 to 2 years.

Completely harmless to humans and the environments

Resists fire and weather storms, water proof, and can be used as an insulator

Applications Of PVC

Applications of PVC (Cont.)Pipe ranges from ½ inch to 24 inches in diameters

Manufacturing PVCStep 1: Reaction-chemical reactions combine small

monomer molecules to form large chain-like polymers

Step 2: Recovery-vinyl chloride monomers that did not convert to polymers are removed then recycled and reused

Step 3: all remaining water is removed from the polymer liquid, called slurry, which then results into a white powder

Step 4: the white powder is called white resin-resin is packed in 25 kilogram bags or one ton bags or poured directly into tanker trucks

Recycling Process of PVCStep 1: Pretreatment: PVC is physically prepared

to be changed back into a raw materialStep 2: Dissolution: Waste is combined with a

prepared solvent in a closed reactor which releases a mixture of compounds

Step 3: Separation: centrifuging, decanting, and cycloning are used for separation of the compounds

Step 4: Precipitation: Steam is injected to completely evaporate the solvent

Step 5: Drying: Slurry is dried and processed water is treated before discharge-more than 99.9% of the original solvent is recovered after this process

Disposal of waste products PVC is safe in disposal PVC can be handled safely by all parts of an

organized waist program PVC can be mechanically and feedstock recycled

or handled in waist-to-energy programs

Project: In Chemistry last year we were assigned a project that included a researched paper, visual aids, power point and oral presentation of a product that was composed of petroleum. I chose to present on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). I really enjoyed this project because my dad is a plumber and I have a good bit of knowledge about the uses of PVC in plumbing and general construction. I learned quite a bit more from all the research, for example, PVC was accidentally discovered once by a French chemist inn 1838 and again in 1872 by a German scientist. I also learned that every time we say the word ‘vinyl’ we are talking about PVC!

The oral presentation to the class was especially important to me because I had put together an interesting paper and wanted to share my work and enthusiasm with the class. I demonstrated how to affix different diameter pipes using special glue. I built a marshmallow molecule of PVC to show the class what a complex structure it is. I included the class in the construction of the PVC molecule, which everyone seemed to enjoy. Following my presentation I felt comfortable that everyone now knew a little bit more about this amazing substance.

This project demonstrates the following expectation:Effective communication: I used many different visual aids and had a strong oral presentation. I used good eye contact and engaged the audience (my class) in the topic as I had them participate in the demonstration. I was surprised when my teacher commented how good it was.