Polyvinyl chloride (abbreviated to PVC) is a plastic whose elasticity can be broadly varied and adapted to different applications through the addition of various substances.
Alongside toughness and elasticity, additives also improve resistance to temperature, light, and weather, as well as improving glossiness. The plastic is for example used in a brittle and hard from as a material for pipes, gutters, and hard-sided cases, and in a soft form for garden hoses and floor coverings. The plastic is a also processed into a PVC paste and applied to textiles (raincoats) and foams (upholstered furniture).