Researchers at Ohio State University have introduced a novel approach that strengthens polyvinyl chloride PVC products while enhancing their safety for users. The findings appear in a peer‑reviewed chemistry journal. The work describes a process that could influence how PVC is made and used across North America.
PVC plastics rank as the third most widely used polymer worldwide. In the United States, Canada, and many manufacturing regions, they appear in toys, building materials, pharmaceutical packaging, piping, cable insulation, and countless consumer goods.
While common in everyday products, pure PVC is inherently brittle and sensitive to rising temperatures. To function reliably, PVC must be stabilized with additives that alter its behavior under heat and light.
Plasticizers and stabilizers provide temporary improvements in flexibility and resilience, but they gradually migrate from PVC. Over time this loss can weaken the material and release organic compounds and microplastics into the environment.
In the latest work, researchers show that applying controlled electrical current can trap plasticizers within the PVC matrix for extended periods. The approach curtails unwanted chemical reactions that degrade performance.
Through this electrical modification, PVC chains become more robust and resistant to chemical attack, yielding a durable polymer that holds up under demanding conditions.
According to the researchers, this method also enhances the recyclability of PVC, supporting repeated processing without significant loss of properties.
Earlier studies have raised concerns that nanoparticles released from PVC and other plastics can cross biological barriers and reach sensitive tissues, underscoring the importance of safer materials and recycling practices.