Effect of extrusion line conditions on rigid PVC profile foam

There is a growing demand for rigid vinyl foam as a wood replacement in window frames, blinds, trimming and other applications. While rigid vinyl foam has existed for many years, additional understanding of its processability and required conditions for good quality PVC profile extrusion line extruded profile would be helpful. This paper examines the effect of extrusion conditions, such as melt temperature, screw speed, and drawdown on process morphology of rigid vinyl foam and the properties of the extruded profile, including density, cell structure, and surface appearance.