_PVC Degradation and Stabilization, Fifth Edition_ contains all the information necessary for the successful design of stabilization formulas in any PVC-based product. Other topics covered include degradation by thermal energy, UV, gamma, and other forms of radiation, chemical degradation, and more. Many new topics are of particular interest today, including new stabilization methods and mechanisms (e.g., synergistic mixtures containing hydrotalcites and their synthetic equivalents, beta-diketones, functionalized fillers, Shiff bases), new approaches to plasticization, methods of waste reprocessing (life cycle assessment, reformulation, biodegradable materials, and energy recovery), accelerated degradation due to electric breakdown, and many more. Analytical methods for studying degradative and stabilization processes aids readers in establishing a system for verifying results of stabilization with different stabilizing systems. * Covers chemical structure, PVC manufacturing technology, morphology, degradation by thermal energy, mechanodegradation, and more * Includes a chapter on the analytical methods used in studying degradative and stabilization processes * Discusses information on the effects of PVC and its additives on health, safety, and the environment