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What specific process is involved in the chemical synthesis of polyvinyl chloride from vinyl chloride monomer, and what are the reaction conditions required for the reaction to take place successfully?

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The specific process involved in the chemical synthesis of polyvinyl chloride  PVC  from vinyl chloride monomer  VCM  is called polymerization. The most common method for this polymerization is suspension polymerization, although emulsion and bulk polymerization methods are also used.In suspension polymerization, the following reaction conditions are required for the reaction to take place successfully:1. Initiator: A chemical initiator, such as an organic peroxide or an azo compound, is added to initiate the polymerization reaction. The initiator breaks down into free radicals, which react with the vinyl chloride monomer to start the polymerization process.2. Reaction medium: The vinyl chloride monomer is dispersed in an aqueous medium containing a suspending agent, such as polyvinyl alcohol or methyl cellulose. This helps to form small droplets of the monomer, which are suspended in the water phase.3. Temperature: The reaction is typically carried out at temperatures between 40-60C  104-140F . Higher temperatures can lead to faster polymerization rates, but also increase the risk of side reactions and degradation of the polymer.4. Pressure: The reaction is conducted under pressure, usually between 10-20 atmospheres, to maintain the vinyl chloride monomer in a liquid state.5. Agitation: The reaction mixture is continuously stirred to maintain the suspension of the monomer droplets and to ensure uniform heat distribution throughout the reactor.6. Reaction time: The polymerization process can take several hours to complete, depending on the reaction conditions and the desired degree of polymerization.Once the polymerization reaction is complete, the resulting PVC polymer is separated from the aqueous phase, washed, and dried. The final product is a white powder, which can be further processed into various PVC products, such as pipes, films, and profiles.

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