PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) plastic film is widely used in packaging, stationery, printing, decoration, and industrial applications due to its excellent transparency, flexibility, flame resistance, and cost-effectiveness. But how is this versatile material actually produced? Let’s take a detailed look at the manufacturing process.

Raw Material Preparation

The main raw material for PVC film production is PVC resin powder. Depending on the application, several additives are blended with the resin to enhance its properties:

• Plasticizers – improve flexibility and make the film easier to process.

• Stabilizers – prevent degradation of PVC during high-temperature processing.

• Lubricants – enhance flow and reduce friction during extrusion.

• Color masterbatch & functional additives – provide color, UV resistance, or flame retardancy.

Mixing and Compounding

The PVC resin and additives are fed into a high-speed mixer to ensure uniform blending. In some processes, the mixture undergoes hot mixing → cooling → pelletizing, producing PVC granules that are easier to handle and process in the extrusion stage.

Extrusion and Melting

The prepared mixture or PVC pellets are fed into an extruder via an automatic feeder. Inside the extruder, the material is gradually heated to 160℃–200℃, where it melts under the combined action of heat and screw shear force.

To ensure film clarity and quality, the molten material passes through filtration units that remove impurities and air bubbles.

Film Forming Methods

There are two primary forming methods for PVC film production:

1. Calendering / Casting Method

• The molten PVC is extruded through a T-die head and cast directly onto cooling rollers.

• This method produces uniform, high-transparency rigid or flexible PVC films.

2. Blown Film Extrusion Method

• The molten PVC is extruded through a circular die and inflated into a tubular film using compressed air.

• This process is suitable for producing soft and stretchable packaging films.

Cooling and Winding

After forming, the PVC film must be cooled quickly using chill rollers or air cooling systems to stabilize its structure and mechanical properties.

The cooled film is then pulled by haul-off equipment and wound into rolls, or cut into sheets depending on customer requirements. At this stage, additional treatments such as embossing, printing, or coating can be applied to enhance the film’s decorative or functional performance.

Quality Inspection and Applications

PVC Binding Covers

Air Curtain PVC Strip

PVC Cover for Dining Table

The finished PVC film undergoes strict quality inspection, including:

• Transparency and gloss

• Thickness uniformity

• Heat resistance and flame retardancy

• Flexibility and tensile strength

Approved PVC films are widely used in:

• Packaging: food packaging, shrink film, industrial protective film

• Stationery: book covers, document folders, office supplies

• Decoration: furniture surface films, advertising graphics base films

Conclusion

The production process of PVC plastic film typically includes raw material preparation → mixing and compounding → extrusion and melting → film forming (casting or blown) → cooling and winding → inspection and application.

By adjusting formulations and processing methods, manufacturers can produce PVC films with different levels of flexibility, transparency, and functionality to meet diverse market demands.