Low-molecular-weight plasticizer is one of the major additives used in PVC compounding. The addition of plasticizers to a PVC formulation decreases many mechanical properties of the PVC product (hardness, tensile strength, modulus, etc.); however, low-temperature flexibility, elongation, and the ease of processing are all improved. The most widely used low-molecular-weight plasticizer is di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DOP)