Optimal experimental design applied to the dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride)

Various factors are known to influence the hydrochloride release of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The variables chosen for this study were heating, stirring, and illumination. For screening, the influence of these three factors on the dehydrochlorination yield of PVC swelled in sodium 3-methylbutoxide (SMB), and a sequence of experiments was planned according to a 23 full factorial design with two replicates. It was found that main effects, as well as two- and three-factor interaction effects, were statistically significant. Higher responses were obtained when the reaction mixture was heated under reflux in the presence of light. On the other hand, lower dehydrochlorination yields were measured when the samples were stirred.