PVC resin, polyvinyl chloride, has four variants depending on its polymerization process: suspension, bulk, emulsion, and solution. In this product portfolio, we offer the two most commonly used types on the market: suspension resin and emulsion resin. Suspension resin is characterized by porous particles with a particle size between 50 and 250 microns, giving it an irregular appearance. Through the mixing process, it absorbs additives that modify its properties. This suspension resin is used within a K-value (or molecular weight) range of 56 to 70, with the specific grade required depending on the manufacturer's needs. It is important to note that these resins, which can be used for rigid or flexible PVC, are processed by extrusion, injection molding, or calendering.
Unlike suspension resin, emulsion resin is a much smaller particle, between 1 and 5 microns, with a plate-like appearance, very low porosity, and a molecular weight (or K value) range of 62-78 K. This resin also undergoes a mixing process, but the difference is that there is no volumetric absorption; instead, a paste or plastisol is obtained. These resulting mixtures are processed using very different methods than suspension resin, such as rotational molding, knife coating, or dipping. Although some of the additives we offer here work for both types of resins, it is important to clarify what type of product you want to manufacture and seek advice on the optimal processing method.
In the market, both resins are commonly grouped under the name 'emulsion resin' because they share applications—plastisol for textile coatings, synthetic leather, vinyl gloves, wallpaper, inks, and flooring—but technically they are produced by different polymerization processes. Classic emulsion resin polymerizes in water with anionic surfactants (alkyl sulfates and sulfonates) that remain as ionic residue in the final powder, along with water-soluble initiators such as persulfate. Microsuspension resin uses organosoluble initiators such as lauroyl peroxide and a significantly lower emulsifier load, resulting in less ionic residue, higher electrical resistivity of the gelled plastisol, and lower hygroscopicity. In both cases, the primary particle forms in the 0.1 to 2 μm range and agglomerates into a 30 to 60 μm powder. There are also significant differences in rheological and melt behavior. Classic emulsion plastisol exhibits markedly pseudoplastic behavior—viscosity decreases as shear rate increases—which is useful in heavy coating processes, foaming, and roller application. Microsuspension plastisol tends toward more Newtonian behavior, with more stable viscosity under shear, preferable for wear layers, transparent topcoats, vinyl gloves, and high-clarity applications. Both types gel and fuse in the 160–200°C range, depending on the plasticizing system used and the specific resin's K-value. In short: when the market refers to 'emulsion resin,' in practice it also includes microsuspension resins, although these are distinct processes with different performance profiles that should be evaluated for each application. Following this introduction, the catalog is divided into two subsections: (a) Emulsion Resin—with EM3090 as the classic emulsion seed; and (b) Microsuspension Resin — with K71, K76 and K76 (H10)
