Enhancing Calendering Process Conditions by Blending Poly(vinyl chloride) with Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Poly(methyl methacrylate)

In this study, blend films were prepared using the calendering process, with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) melt-mixed with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) at various ratios. The process conditions, structural, thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical testing. Results indicated that PVC/PE and PVC/PP blends were immiscible, while PVC/PMMA blends were miscible. The miscibility directly enhanced the mechanical properties, with yield stress and elastic modulus of PVC/PMMA (95/5 wt%) blends improving by 29.7% and 28.8%, respectively. Calendering conditions, such as banking time and current values, improved by 2-32% for all PVC blends. The increased miscibility significantly reduced energy consumption and production time, offering a cost-effective method for calendering PVC films.