Polyvinylchloride
(PVC) [-(-CH2 -CHCl-)n-] is one of the three most important
polymers currently used worldwide. This is because PVC is one of
the cheapest polymers to make and has a large range of properties
so can be used to make hundreds of products. PVC is formed by the
polymerisation of vinyl chloride (chloroethane) monomer units:
PVC
consists of polar molecules which are attracted to each other by
dipole-dipole interactions due to electrostatic attractions of a
chlorine atom in one molecule to a hydrogen atom in another atom:
These
considerable intermolecular attractions between polymer chains make
PVC a fairly strong material.
Uncompounded
PVC is colourless and rigid and possesses poor stability towards
heat and light. However, the use of additives/stabilisers enables
us to change the properties of the PVC to how we desire.
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