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Manufacturing PVC
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The precursor to the polymer PVC is vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Australian Vinyls imports the VCM used in manufacturing.
Our overseas suppliers produce the monomer in a five stage process:
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1. Chlorine (Cl) is extracted from sea salt via electrolysis.
2. Ethylene (C2H4) is derived from hydrocarbon raw materials.
3. Ethylene and chlorine react to produce ethylene dichloride (EDC).
4. Ethylene dichloride is decomposed through a thermal ‘cracking’ process resulting in vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
5. Hydrogen chloride is reacted with ethylene and oxygen to produce more EDC and water.
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Liquid VCM is carried to Victoria in modern liquid-gas carrying ships. Each consignment is about 14 000 tonnes.
There are four key steps in PVC manufacture at AVC:
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1. Reaction
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2. Recovery
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3. Drying
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4. Packaging and Dispatch
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