An investigation of acrylic processing aids for low molecular weight PVC

Acrylic processing aids have long been used in rigid PVC to increase fusion, decrease jetting and blushing down in blow molding, decrease parison draw down in blow molding, improve the rolling bank in calendering, improve thermoforming, and improve cell structure in foam extrusion. It has generally been thought that the specific viscosity (Nsp/c) of process aids were limited to a fairly limited narrow range. Recently, significantly higher molecular weight process aids have been developed and commercialized. Very little work though has been done with low molecular weight process aids as these products were assumed to be ineffective when compared to the commonly used products. This paper will investigate currently available products and some experimental products well above and below the Nsp/c of currently available products. The major area of investigation will be in very low to low molecular weight PVC resins and will deal with the applicability of these products in injection molding.