Gelation of Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride Compounds in a Co‐Kneader

The co‐kneader is a proper tool for processing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds. Gelation of PVC is complex because of a narrow processing window. At low temperature, gelation is incomplete and leads to poor mechanical properties, while at high temperature, degradation may occur. The aim of this study is to gain a fundamental understanding of the gelation process of PVC in co‐kneaders. Careful examination of the gelation state of extruded PVC samples was carried out qualitatively by swelling the extruded samples in acetone and quantitatively by differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Gelation in various conditions of temperature and shear was firstly studied in a capillary device that ensures both pre‐shearing and extrusion through a circular die. This provided a reference basis for comparison with gelation state obtained in the co‐kneader. Samples were collected in the co‐kneader by means of opening the barrel. The gelation state was particularly examined in connection with the measured temperature at a fixed position along the screw at which a temperature sensor was positioned. The obtained results showed that the co‐kneader allows fast gelation with a mixing energy value lower than 200 kJ/kg when the temperature is higher than a critical value of 165°C for the studied formulation. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 26:316–324, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers