The compounding of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, involves storage, conveying, metering, mixing, and cooling. All of these operations take place prior to the actual melt compounding and each is a critical step in the process that can hurt product quality if not done properly. Problems that may arise and interfere with the smooth functioning of the compounding plant include contamination, segregation, mixer scale, line plugging, and off-spec production.

This section of Specialty Minerals Inc.’s web site contains a number of pages that deal with the technology of pre-blending and melt compounding rigid PVC. Click on one of these topics to go to that page:

• How to Compound - discusses some of the basic aspects of melt compounding
• Moisture – deals with this problem in all parts of the compounding operation
• Flow and Handling  – provides some information to help solve problems in this area
• Problem Solving –a general discussion about methods of investigating problems
• Running a Trial  – covers procedures that will make a trial more productive

Learn more:

• SMI minerals for plastics
• SMI minerals for rigid PVC
• SMI minerals for PVC window and door profiles
• SMI minerals for PVC fence and decking
• SMI minerals for PVC siding
• SMI minerals for calendared and thermoformed rigid PVC
• SMI minerals for injected-molded PVC
  
  
• SMI minerals in automotive products.  See the parts of your car that are made with Specialty Minerals products.
• SMI minerals in housing. See the places Specialty Minerals products are used around your house.
  
  
• “Fillers in PVC – A Review of the Basics” - download brochure
• Download brochure on Specialty Minerals Plastics Applications Laboratory
  
  
• About Specialty Minerals Inc.
• Quality and ISO at Specialty Minerals
  
  
• Plastics Exhibitions. Where we are participating and where you can talk to Specialty Minerals staff about your formulations.
• Specialty Minerals Plastics Publications – General and Impact: Downloadable papers on fillers in plastics and PCCs and talcs in plastic applications.
• Useful plastics websites