Bibliometric survey of the PVC production - Part I: the continuous polymerization challenge

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resins constitute the third most important plastic materials available commercially, in terms of worldwide volume production, and can be manufactured through several polymerization mechanisms, including free radical, ionic redox processes. Approximately 80% commercial PVC production is performed suspension processes batch mode, due to intrinsic problems continuous processes, such as polymer incrustation reaction vessels, transport equipment pipes. For this reason, present review provides an extensive bibliometric survey, papers patents, on attempts develop process technologies for manufacture. Particularly, survey characterizes degree maturity main bottlenecks that have been frequently overlooked technical literature.