At its core, a plasticizer is a substance added to a material to increase its plasticity or fluidity. In most cases, plasticizers are used with polymers, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to enhance their mechanical properties. PVC, in its rigid form, is brittle and can break under stress. When plasticizers are incorporated, they reduce the glass transition temperature of the material, enabling it to become more flexible and easier to process. This transformation is particularly valuable in applications where flexibility is essential, such as in cables, vinyl flooring, and synthetic leather.