STUDIES OF RIGID POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) (PVC) COMPOUNDS .4. FUSION CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOLOGY ANALYSES

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), PVC/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), PVC/oxidized polyethylene (OPE), and PVC/CPE/OPE compounds were prepared in a Haake torque rheometer at various temperatures, rotor speeds, and totalized torques (TTQ). The fusion characteristics of these PVC compounds (fusion time, fusion torque, and fusion temperature) were studied. Longer fusion time results in higher fusion temperature. Higher fusion temperature results in lower fusion torque. The fusion time of PVC/OPE compounds is the longest among these PVC blends. However, the fusion time of PVC/CPE/OPE compounds is the shortest among these PVC blends. The fusion time of the PVC/CPE/OPE compound is significantly different from those of PVC, PVC/OPE, and PVC/CPE compounds at the medium starting temperature and the medium rotor speed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses successfully revealed the surface morphological changes of the fusion of PVC, PVC/OPE, PVC/CPE, and PVC/CPE/OPE compounds. The lubrication mechanisms of these PVC compounds have also been postulated. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.