Next‐Generation Polyvinyl Chloride ( PVC ) Thermal Stabilizers: Innovations for Performance and Sustainability

ABSTRACT PVC is ubiquitous yet vulnerable to heat‐triggered dehydrochlorination and polyene growth, so every formulation relies on thermal stabilizers. This review clarifies the degradation pathway and compares how stabilizer families prevent it. Historically, lead and organotin systems set the performance bar. Today, health and regulatory pressures have shifted practice toward calcium–zinc packages supported by organic co‐stabilizers such as epoxides, β ‐diketones, and polyols. State‐of‐the‐art blends now meet most processing and lifetime needs in rigid and flexible PVC, while avoiding toxic heavy metals. At the frontier, greener concepts are taking hold: rare‐earth carboxylates and metal alkoxides add long‐term stability, while PET‐waste‐derived terephthalamides and terephthalates act as HCl scavengers and defect passivators, linking heat stability with circularity. We highlight how stabilizer performance is measured from torque rheometry and static‐oven color hold to TGA kinetics. Spectroscopy and computation clarify mechanisms and guide design. Across these advances runs a clear theme: balancing performance, safety, and recyclability. This review distills the mechanisms, trade‐offs, and emerging options so formulators can assemble heavy‐metal‐free, multifunctional packages that enable fast processing, bright initial color, durable service, and cleaner end‐of‐life for PVC.