PVCproduktion

PVC production, also known as polyvinyl chloride production, is the industrial process of manufacturing PVC resin. This versatile plastic is made through a series of chemical reactions. The primary raw materials are ethylene, typically derived from petroleum or natural gas, and chlorine, obtained from the electrolysis of brine (saltwater).

The first step involves the production of ethylene dichloride (EDC) through a process called direct chlorination or oxychlorination of ethylene. EDC is then heated to high temperatures in a cracking furnace, a process known as thermal cracking, which converts it into vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and hydrogen chloride. The hydrogen chloride is often recycled back into the oxychlorination process.

The final stage is the polymerization of VCM into PVC. This is typically achieved through suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, or bulk polymerization. In suspension polymerization, VCM is dispersed as small droplets in water and polymerized using initiators. The resulting PVC resin is then dried and processed into various forms for its wide range of applications. PVC is used in construction for pipes and window frames, in the automotive industry, in packaging, and in consumer goods.