| RESEARCH |
Research has historically helped chemical producers boost sales and breathe new life into their products, but Leveson noted that vinyl producers make only "modest" investments in R&D. To address that shortfall, a consortium of vinyl producers committed $6 million in 1998 to fund polymer advances at Edison Polymer Innovation Corp., a research alliance of Ohio universities and industry.
The money funds projects that could lead to the metallocene polymerization of vinyl chloride and has already led to the development of new compatibilizers for PVC alloys and blends. Unless the industry undertakes new research initiatives, funding on the Edison projects will run only through 2003, said Charles E. Wilkes, coordinator of the program.
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