PVC is a type of plastic. Which category does PVC belong to?

• A. Elastomer
• B. Bioplastic
• C. Thermoplastic
• D. Thermoset

Answer: (C)

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a thermoplastic. Thermoplastics soften when heated and can be melted and reshaped multiple times, which fits how PVC behaves during processing and recycling. The polymer chains in PVC do not form permanent crosslinks, so heating allows it to be remolded. Plasticizers can make PVC flexible, but that doesn’t change its fundamental thermoplastic nature. This distinguishes it from elastomers (which are highly elastic but not defined by melting/reforming in the same way) and from thermosets (which cure into a permanently crosslinked structure that cannot be melted). It’s also not bioplastic, since PVC is typically derived from petroleum-based resources. Therefore, the category is thermoplastic.