Glutarimide acrylic copolymer: A new route to high heat PVC

PVC is the second largest polymer produced and used in the U.S. It is a self‐extinguishing material with excellent chemical resistance and good dimensional stability. It's greatest asset, however, is it's versatility. By specifically formulating PVC with the numerous types of additives available, a balance of properties can be tailored for a wide range of applications. The most serious disadvantage of PVC is it's low heat resistance which limits the service temperature of finished articles to about 70°C. Now an additive is available that can be formulated with PVC to form miscible, transparent blends with increased service temperature. With proper formulating, the higher HDT can be achieved without sacrificing other properties. It is especially important in clear PVC applications where no increase in haze was noted with the addition of the acrylic imide copolymer. Indications are that substantial market opportunities exist for a high heat PVC. Major market segments include clear packaging with it's need for hot‐fill containers, building products where the desire to use darker colors provides the driving force, and in custom injection molding applications where improved heat resistance would allow vinyl to compete more effectively with FR‐styrenics.