The effect of tin stabilizers on the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

Simultaneous HCl evolution and spin-generation measurements were made on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) samples containing stabilizers of the type R_x Sn Y_4-x. It was found that tetrabutyltin and tributyltin laurate were better stabilizers than dibutyltin dilaurate. On the basis of the results, a mechanism for the stabilization of PVC by this class of compounds is proposed.