Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): modification, properties, industrial and diverse applications

Abstract Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) remains one of the most extensively produced and utilized synthetic polymers globally, owing to its versatility and economic advantages. Despite its widespread application, raw PVC resin lacks essential performance characteristics such as flexibility, thermal stability, and chemical resilience, necessitating extensive modification to suit diverse industrial uses. This review provides a summary of PVC’s modification, properties, industrial and diverse applications. It also explores the primary modification strategies of PVC including the use of plasticizers, copolymerization, polymer blending, surface modifications, and nanocomposite enhancements. Each approach is discussed in terms of underlying mechanisms, material improvements, and associated health and environmental implications, particularly those linked to conventional plasticizers like di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The review further considers recent advances in PVC and the growing trend toward sustainable and bio-based alternatives. By integrating foundational principles with recent research insights, the work aims to offer a thorough understanding of the current landscape as well as future directions in PVC modification.