PVC

Arkema is Europe’s 3rd leading producer of chlorochemicals with a fully integrated chlorine activity from salt electrolysis to PVC converting.

Arkema’s PVC business unit teams operate from four production sites in France: Balan in Ain, Berre in Bouches-du-Rhône, Saint-Fons in Rhône, Saint-Auban in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as from the Hernani site in Spain.

PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) is a polymer obtained by polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. Arkema produces several PVC groups:

• PVC – General Purpose
  General Purpose PVC grades are manufactured by a suspension polymerization process in the Balan and Berre facilities, and by a mass polymerization process in the Saint-Fons facility.
  These grades are used in a huge variety of applications: window profiles, pipes, rigid and flexible film, technical profiles, cable trunking, skirting board, roller shutters, cables for various sectors (e.g. construction), packaging, health (blood bags), etc.
  
• PVC – Paste
  Paste PVC is produced by an emulsion or microsuspension polymerization process in the Saint-Auban and Hernani facilities, in France and Spain respectively.
  It is used to manufacture vinyl flooring, artificial leather, plastic wall covering, protective sealant for rocker panels in car bodywork, toys, balls, etc.,
  
• PVC Copolymers
  Copolymers are produced from the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer and vinyl acetate in the Saint-Auban plant.
  They are used in particular for rigid calendering (rigid sheeting, blister packs, transparent packaging, credit cards, etc.), vinyl records, and floor tiles.
  
• PVC-C
  PVC-C is a post-chlorinated polymer produced by adding chlorine to base PVC, to increase its chlorine content from 56 to 65 or 67%. As a result, PVC-C boasts superior resistance to high temperature, and is therefore suitable for use in pressurized hot water circuits. PVC-C is produced in the Saint-Fons plant.
  Its application areas range from pipes and connections to rigid profiles, and from injection molded parts to rigid film and sheeting.