A. P, Paul Mamza.A, Aliyu2023-12-142023-12-142011-07-04Galadanchi, K. M.; Mamza, P. A. P. 2003. Evaluation of the Degradation of Polyvinyl Chloride in excess Hydrochloric Acid and Ammonia. Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria, 28(1): 23- 27. Gloria Maria Vinhas, 2003. Degradation studies on plasticized PVC films submitted to gamma radiation. Materials Resource, 6(4): Sao Huggins, M. L. 1942. Theory of solution of higH Polymers. Journal of American Chemical Societu 64:2716-2721. The modulus was calculated from the slope of the linear portions of Figure 1 according to Hooke's law, these results are in agreement with the general finding that plasticizers increase the ductility and flexibility of films which is often accompanied by a reduction in tensile strength and modulus of elasticity (Lever et al., 1958; Nielson, 1974). Elongation at break of the PVC 220 Effect of Plasticizer on the Molecular Weight and some Mechanical Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Lahame, S. A.; Park, G. S. 1983. The gelation and rigidity modulus of dilute polyvinylchloride gels in phthalate plasticizer solutions. European Polymer Journal, 19(12): 1147-1152. Mamza, P. A. A. P.; Folaranmi, F. M. 1996. Compatibility Studies on Solution of Polystyrene and Polyvinyl acetate Blend by Density and Viscometric methods. European Polymer Journal, 32(7): 909 - 912. Bikales, N. M. 1970. Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, 14:305 - 482. Billmeyer, F. W. 1971. Text book of Polymer Science. 2nd Edition, John Willey and sons Inc, New York, p. 127. Koleske, J. B.; Wartman L. H. 1969. Poly(vinyl chloride), Polymer monograph 3:70. Newmann, S.; Strella, 1965. Stress- Strain Behaviour of Rubber Reinforced Glassy Polymers. Journal of Applied Polymers Science, 9:2297. Lever, A. E.; Rhys, J. 1958. The Properties and Testing of Plastic Materials, 1st Edition, Chemical Publishing Co. New York, pp. 9 -10. Rudin, A.; Benschop-Hendrychova, I. 1971. Measurement of molecular weight of Polyvinyl Chloride. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 15:2881 - 2904. Mascia, L. 1974. The role of additives in Plastics. Edward Arnold, London, pp. 1-5. Nass, L. 1.1976. Encyclopedia of Poly(vinyl chloride), Vol. 1, Mercel-Dekker, Inc. New York. Singh, Y. P.; Singh, R. P. 1983. Compatibility Studies on Solutions of Polymer Blends by Viscometric and Ultrasonic techniques. European Polymer Journal, 19(6): 535 - 541. Nielson, L. E. 1974. Mechanical Properties of Polymers and Composites, Marcel-Dekker, New York. • Uijlenburg, H. 1960. Water Absorption of unplasticized PVC, Plastics, London. Vol. 25, No. 94, p.539. Wales, M. 1971. Compatibility of plasticizers with Polyvinyl chloride. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 15:293 - 310.https://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/5501Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a rigid polymer andfor several of its applications mustbe compounded with plasticizing agents. The plasticizers minimize the dipolar in teractions which exist between the polymers chains, promoting their mobility. In this work, the viscosity average molecular weight (MJ of pure PVC and plasticized PVC solutions in Cyclohexanone at 30°C (±0.5°C) was determined. The effect of amount of plasticizer on the molecular weight was studied. It was observed that limiting viscosity number decreased abruptly from pure PVC to plasticizer PVC solutions and the effect became very less pronounced as the amount of the plasticizer increases. The mechanical properties of pure PVC film cast from solutions was determined and also for PVC/plasticizer systems of varying compositions weight by weight. The films were prepared by casting a 2% solution of pure PVC and plasticized PVC on a Petridish and at 3(fC for 48hours, yielding films of average thickness 0.087mm. Generally, the ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity decrease as the amount of plasticizer increases while the elongation at break increases with increasing amount of plasticizer. Plasticization reduced the ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity but increased the elongation at the break of thefilm remarkably.enArticle