In PVC compound manufacturing, it’s important to understand the key difference between PVC resin and PVC granules. Uses for each of these two different forms of raw material differ significantly, mostly because, in essence, one is used to make the other.
In a nutshell, PVC resin is essentially the raw material used to make PVC granules. It is combined with stabilisers, colourants, and plasticisers before being processed into pelletised granules for easier handling and processing during manufacturing.
Let’s unpack this a little further:
Physical Characteristics
PVC resin differs from PVC granules first and foremost in terms of its physical nature. Resin is made up of extremely fine particles and is used as a raw material for manufacturing granules after being heated and mixed with additives.
The resulting granules embody the ready-to-use compounds that are processed during the manufacturing stage and can be extruded or injected into moulds as needed, already containing the necessary additives.
Processing
Since PVC resin is in powdered form, it needs to be compounded with other ingredients before being processed into granules. This means it needs to be mixed with stabilisers, fillers, plasticisers, colourants, and other chemicals to create the specific formulations needed to turn the resin into usable plastic as per specifications.
PVC granules, on the other hand, have already undergone this process and are designed for direct use in either injection moulding or extrusion manufacturing processes. This makes granules more convenient for end-product manufacturers.
Applications
PVC resin cannot be used in its original form to manufacture anything. Something would always have to be added, such as a mould release agent or heat stabiliser. For example, some pipe manufacturers use PVC compound dry blend, which is PVC resin mixed with other additives in a powder form, to extrude to plastic.
For most manufacturing processes, preformulated PVC granules are more convenient, as they can be used for immediate processing. The preprocessed nature of the granules makes them more user-friendly and reduces the risk of inconsistencies and defects during manufacturing.
Whatever your PVC granules uses might be, you can rest assured that we only supply the best of the best. Contact IPC today to learn more about our wide range of PVC compounds.
