Cryogenic temperatures of PVC, PET and EVA suitable for grinding to powder

January 9, 2009 on 3:30 pm | By | In bluefreesky.com | Cryogenic temperatures of PVC, PET and EVA suitable for grinding to powder
  • I know that at minus 70 degree Fahrenheit, we can grind PVC into powder, e.g. using impact hammer. The question is: at what temperatures can we grind PET (polyester) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) into powder.


  • Tg (glass temperature) is the temperature at which plastic becomes soft under normal circumstances. I'm sure "soft" is not the proper scientific term to describe this change of property, but to a layman such as myself, plastic becomes soft at Tg. During grinding, because of friction and pressure, plastic becomes soft at a much lower temperature. For example the Tg of almost all plastic are higher than room temperature, but if we grind them in room temperature, the plastics will immediately become soft and gum up the machinery. Our experience with PVC is: we have to reduce the temperature of the grinding chamber to negative 70 degrees F in order to successfully grind PVC into powder. My question is: what are the corresponding temperatures for PET and EVA.


  • Below Tg a polymer becomes brittle and can therefore be ground to a powder. The Tg of PET is 342 K (69 oC)--it can be ground at room temperature. EVA is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate; the Tg will depend on the vinyl acetate content. EVA trade names include Elvax, Escorene, and Ultrathene--the manufacturers should list vinyl acetate content and/or Tg on their tech data sheets. (Tg data is from Polymer Handbook, 2nd edition by Immergut and Brandrup, eds. The Tg listed for PVC is 354 K or 81 oC).


  • This temperature called "glass temperature",Tg.







  • #If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.#
    Your name:
    E-mail:
    Telphone:

    Your comments:


    If you have any other info about Cryogenic temperatures of PVC, PET and EVA suitable for grinding to powder , Please add it free.