Final answer:
To prevent damage to PVC caused by temperature changes, plasticizers are used to increase its flexibility by acting as lubricants between polymer chains, enabling them to adjust to thermal expansion and contraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Materials such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) can be protected from damage due to temperature changes through the use of plasticizers. These substances are added to PVC to make it more flexible, which reduces the risk of cracks and breaks when PVC expands or contracts in response to temperature fluctuations.
Plasticizers work by inserting themselves between the polymer chains of PVC, effectively acting as lubricants and allowing the chains to slide over one another more easily. This helps to accommodate the thermal expansion and contraction without causing structural damage to the PVC product.