PVC Formulation, Germany

The global PVC industry is expanding with very rapid growth anticipated in China, India, South America, Turkey, Russia, the CIS countries, Central and Eastern Europe. However, in the Western European markets and North America growth has slowed.

The ‘green’ benefits of PVC have been proven, in particular in energy conservation in double glazing and light reflective roofing. The PVC industry has also responded to the issues and has worked successfully to cut emissions and promote recycling, with ongoing initiatives in place such as Vinyl 2010.

A wide range of additives are used in PVC formulation including fillers, pigments, impact modifiers, stabilisers, processing aids, compatibilisers (such as in wood plastic composites), lubricants and plasticisers.

PVC is compounded to provide specific properties for applications ranging from pipe and profile to packaging, blood bags and toys. Chemical safety regulations are driving PVC formulation changes, particularly in the European Union and North America. REACH in Europe may restrict the availability of some additives, because of the cost and complexity of the testing programme. Cadmium stabilisers have been phased out and lead stabilisers are being replaced with less toxic additives, while in flexible PVC phthalate plasticisers are being substituted in some applications. These changes are part of global shift, for example, in South Africa lead is being phased out in pipe materials; in Brazil a 75% substitution of lead has already been achieved; in South Korea DEHP is being substituted in transfusion bags, toys and childcare articles.

At the same time, compounders are taking the opportunity to review the whole PVC recipe to look at new ways of differentiating their products and reducing costs, because market pressures are pushing price competitiveness. In addition, when one part of a recipe is changed, other parts have to be adjusted to compensate for performance variations in any new additive.

PVC Formulation 2009 is a networking conference being organised by Applied Market Information from 16-18 March 2009 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. The conference offers new opportunities to debate the market and technical developments. It is an event for compounders, end users of PVC and suppliers to the industry, with topics ranging from product differentiation to managing complex legislative issues.

For further information, please contact:
Dr Sally Humphreys
Business Development Manager
Applied Market Information Ltd, 45-47 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 117 924 9442
Email: sh@amiplastics.com
Conference web site: http://www.amiplastics.com/ami/AMIConference.asp?EventID=150