Published June 1976
Polyvinylidene chloride copolymers are commercially prominent among the vinyl plastics because of their role in specialized applications. An outstanding product example is Dow Saran food wrap, which has a uniquely low permeability to air and moisture.
One objective of this report is to analyze the technology and economics of the following three established processes to produce vinylidene chloride (1,1-dichloroethylene) monomer:
- Thermal chlorination of ethane.
- Aqueous caustic soda dehydrochlorination of l,l, 2-trichloroethane.
- Thermal dehydrochlorination of methyl chloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane) derived from vinyl chloride.
Although closely related to the processes for other chlorinated hydrocarbons such as vinyl chloride, methyl chloroform, and ethylene dichloride, the evaluation of these three processes in this report is based on discrete plant facilities and production operations entirely unrelated to the integrating influence of a larger chlorinated hydrocarbon complex. A second objective of this report is to analyze the technology and economics of a suspension process and an emulsion process for making polyvinylidene chloride copolymers. These processes are basic for the manufacture of industrial polyvinylidene copolymer solid resins and emulsion latexes. The scope of this part of this report is limited to the production of a suspension copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride and an emulsion latex copolymer of vinylidene chloride, ethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate.
The end-use patterns of the most significant copolymers are discussed in this report. The resin and latex compounding and application technology are not analyzed in the report.
The design and cost bases and physical property data are given in Appendices A, B, and C.
