Organic Based Stabilizer Systems for PVC Pipes

Today's success of PVC as the second largest single polymer with numerous applications would not have been possible without the development of efficient additives at the same time. In fact PVC cannot be processed in a proper way without addition of lubricants and stabilizers. This fact was already realized at the early beginning of PVC production. Therefore, it is not surprising that pipes: one of the oldest industrial applications fir rigid PVC in general and the first example for long-term use of thermoplastics at all. were produced with stabilizers. 

In 1935 the first PVC pipes were produced from Emulsion-PVC at I.G. Farbenindustrie Wolfen's site in Bitterfeld, Germany. The technical advantages of these pipes with the trademarks ,,lgelita and ,.VinidurS' were recognized very fast. Resistance against chemical attack of acids, bases, corrosive substances such as sea water, the easy installation and the very good mechanical properties led to a very fast acceptance of the plastic pipe in the chemical as well in the food and beverage industry and for the potable water pipes of public water systems .

During the experiments to foml pipes from the PVC powder it was found that the addition of urca derivatives can prorecr PVC from degradation during processing at the required temperatures [2]. Thus organic, metal free PVC stabilization was discovered and used very early and, just afier the discovery of lead as PVC stabilizer [3,4]. Diphenylthiourea and monophenylurea were commercially available stabilizers under the tradename ,,Stabilisator C" and ,,Stabilisator VH" during the 50s.