5. Conclusion

The rheological behavior of plastisol formulations differs from that of other thermoplastic polymers used in coating processes. These are suspensions that can exhibit dilatancy at high shear rates, depending on the particle size and size distribution. However, the interactions between PVC particles and the plasticizer, as well as the coexistence of deformable spherical PVC particles and rigid, complex-shaped calcium carbonate particles, make this type of suspension unique compared to most of those encountered in other industrial applications and discussed in the literature.

The flow of plastisol between the doctor blade and the cylinder results in a very wide range of shear rates, which requires consideration of the rheological behavior across the entire range. Since this behavior is non-monotonic, classical approaches in continuum mechanics are not applicable....