HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT:
Chloride (PVC) is one of the oldest yet one of
the most important plastic material. Justice Von
Libel discovered the monomer, vinyl chloride,
in 1835.In 1860s, A W Hoffman made the first vinyl
halide polymer. But the inherent difficulties
in processing this material failed to attract
commercial interest. In early 1930s, Fritz Klatte
of Chemist Fabric Griesheim-ELektron made use
of PVC as a useful rigid plastic to substitute
film, fibre lacquers of natural origin. 1934,
Waldo Semon, a scientist from BF Goodrich USA,
was the first person who made an useful, flexible,
elastic material from PVC
has undergone continuous improvements during 70
years of experience in manufacturing and processing.
This illustrates the key advantage of the material,
viz., and adaptability to changing time and environments.
This has been possible since it can be compounded
with appropriate additives to meet 'tailor made'
applications and can be processed in many different