Abstract: The present invention pertains to the chlorination of polyvinyl chloride resin particles by exposing said particles of polyvinyl chloride particles while associated with chlorine to high-intensity pulsating actinic radiation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which permits the photochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) resin ("PVC"), in an aqueous medium without the use of swelling agents such as are conventionally used. The chlorination reaction proceeds in an aqueous suspension having a high PVC concentration, yet allows the production of essentially uniformly chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) resin ("CPVC") of excellent quality and uniformity, with a heat distortion temperature ("HDT") of at least 100.degree. C. The transfer of chlorine from the gaseous phase into the aqueous phase, and then into the solid PVC phase, has been accelerated by this process which provides a critical combination of photo-illumination, elevated temperature and elevated pressure in a reactor devoid of oxygen and a swelling agent for the PVC. The "water-chlorination process" of this invention provides a "soak" period, after removal of oxygen from the aqueous PVC suspension, at a soak temperature of about 60.degree. C. to about 75.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) ("CPVC") which is dissolved in liquid chlorine ("Cl.sub.2 ") to form a CPVC solution. CPVC is recovered by adding the CPVC solution to a halogenated lower alkaline ("HLA"), which is simultaneously an excellent solvent for liquid Cl.sub.2 and a very poor solvent for CPVC. This peculiar property causes the CPVC to be precipitated from the three-component mixture as a finely divided solid with different morphological properties than if the HLA was added to the CPVC solution. The solid CPVC precipitated may then be separated from the solution of liquid Cl.sub.2 in the HLA. This solution of Cl.sub.2 in HLA is further separated into its component liquids, namely HLA and liquid Cl.sub.2 which are then each reused.