Hydrocarbon Structure of PVC

1. Basic Monomer Unit:

The basic building block of PVC is the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which has the chemical formula C2H3Cl.

The structure of the vinyl chloride monomer is:

  H   H
  |   |
 H-C-C-Cl
    |
   H

2. Polymerization:

PVC is formed by the polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomers, resulting in long chains of repeated units.

The polymerization reaction involves the double bonds of the monomers opening up and linking together to form a polymer chain.

3. Resulting Polymer Structure:

The repeating unit in the PVC polymer is:

  -[CH2-CHCl]-

Visual Representation of PVC Structure

To illustrate, here's a simplified representation of part of the PVC polymer chain:

   H   H   H   H   H
   |   |   |   |   |
- C - C - C - C - C -
   |   |   |   |   |
   H   Cl  H   Cl  H



Properties of PVC

Durability: PVC is highly durable and resistant to environmental degradation.

Chemical Resistance: It exhibits excellent resistance to acids, bases, and salts.

Flame Retardant: PVC is inherently flame retardant due to the presence of chlorine atoms.

Flexibility: PVC can be made flexible or rigid depending on the formulation and the use of plasticizers.

Applications of PVC

Construction: Pipes, fittings, and profiles for windows and doors.

Electrical: Insulation for electrical cables and wires.

Healthcare: Medical tubing, blood bags, and other medical devices.

Consumer Goods: Flooring, wallpapers, and synthetic leather.